Cessna 421C accident near Farmington, New Mexico, April 15, 1984
On April 15, 1984 at about 6:50 am local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N6205X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico (Farmington Muni airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1984 · about 6:50 am local time
- Place
- Farmington, New Mexico · Farmington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6205X · no longer on the register · serial 421C0901
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING AFTER LANDING, THE ACFT WAS IN A LEFT TURN WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ALL 3 GEAR INDICATED DOWN & LOCK, BOTH BEFORE & AFTER THE MISHAP. AN EXAM OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ACTUATOR, PN 9910136-4, REVEALED THAT CONTAMINATION HAD COLLECTED ON THE INNER CYLINDER WALL & PREVENTED THE KEYS FROM PROPERLY EXTENDING TO THE LOCKED POSITION. ALSO, THE GEAR SYS WAS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THE ACTUATOR WHEN IT WAS EXTENDED. HOWEVER, THE CONTAMINANT ALSO PREVENTED THE SWITCH (IN THE ACTUATOR) FROM OPERATING PROPERLY.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,369 hours in all; 1,450 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days; 7,163 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,380 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 15, 1983; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EO2 Odessa TX at 4:15 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from FMN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.