Cessna 421B accident near Battle Creek, Michigan, October 10, 1991
On October 10, 1991 at about 5:31 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N100CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battle Creek, Michigan (W.K. Kellogg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR'S DOWNLOCK LINK ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1991 · about 5:31 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Creek, Michigan · W.K. Kellogg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N100CA · registry record · serial 421B0503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE COMPLETION OF ITS LANDING ROLL THE MEDIUM SIZED TWIN ENGINED AIRLINE BEGAN A LEFTHAND 180 DEGREE TURN ON THE RUNWAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BACK TAXIING. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD ADDED POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE TO AID HIM PERFORM THE TURN. DURING THIS TURN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DOWNLOCK LINK HAD FAILED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,580 hours in all; 550 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520H (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Specialist, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GRR Grand Rapids MI at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:50 pm from BTL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N100CA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.