Cessna 421C accident near Angola, Indiana, January 21, 1995
On January 21, 1995, a Cessna 421C, registered N421AW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Angola, Indiana (Tri-State Steuben County airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SHOCK STRUT SLEEVE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1995
- Place
- Angola, Indiana · Tri-State Steuben County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N421AW · registry record · serial 0807
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THEN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AFTER ITS RIGHT TIRE HAD TOUCHED DOWN. A PASSENGER SAID THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TOUCHED DOWN HARD. ITS TOUCH DOWN WAS FOLLOWED BY A 'THUD' SOUND. AFTER THE THUD SOUND THE RIGHT WING LOWERED UNTIL IT TOUCHED THE RUNWAY. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED OVERLOAD FRACTURES ON THE LANDING GEAR'S SHOCK STRUT SLEEVE AND METAL SHAVING IN THE STRUT'S LOWER ATTACH FITTING HOLE. THE LEADING EDGE DEICING BOOTS ON THE WING AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAD 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH OF ICE COVERING ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THEIR SURFACE.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,132 hours in all; 404 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 948 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSI0-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDF Louisville KY at 11:00 pm
- Destination: ANQ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.