Cessna 421C accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, May 5, 1985
On May 5, 1985 at about 5:48 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N8343G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- May 5, 1985 · about 5:48 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8343G · no longer on the register · serial 4210307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A PASTURE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE ARPT AFTER THE ACFT BEGAN TO DESCEN 'BEHIND THE POWER CURVE' AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT SAID HE USED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF BUT THE TAKEOFF WAS LONGER THAN NORMAL. THE DA WAS COMPUTED TO BE 9286 FT. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT SAID HE RAISED THE LNDG GEAR BUT A WITNESS DISAGREED. THE FLT THEN REDUCED PWR AND AS RPM WAS REDUCED, NOTED THAT THE MP WAS ONLY 24 IN. THE ACFT BEGAN A DESCENT WHICH THE PLT SAID COULD NOT BE STOPPED WITH POWER SO HE LANDED GEAR DOWN IN A PASTURE. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH 2 DITCHES AND A FENCE DURING THE 1500 FT ROLL. THE ENGS WERE FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,230 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1984; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:42 pm from LVS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.