Cessna 421C accident near Sterling, Colorado, April 24, 2008
On April 24, 2008 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N513FS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sterling, Colorado (Sterling airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
Failure and separation of the upper and lower right main gear torque links links, which resulted in a loss of directional control on landing roll-out.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2008 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sterling, Colorado · Sterling · 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
- N513FS · registry record · serial 421-0510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll-out, the airline transport pilot said a 50-knot gust of wind hit the twin-engine airplane from the right side. The airplane weathervaned into the wind, at which time he applied full left rudder to compensate. The pilot tried to maintain control of the airplane as it skipped off the right side of the runway onto the grass. Subsequently, the left main gear collapsed due to the side load and the airplane came to an immediate stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear had collapsed, the left main gear had separated from the airframe; the right main landing gear remained attached to the airframe, but the upper and lower torque links had separated, and the wheel was rotated to the right. Further examination of the upper and lower link assemblies securing bolt, bushing, two AN washers, castellated nut, and cotter pin, revealed it had pulled through the lower torque link boss, which allowed the main wheel, brake, and strut assembly to rotate inside the strut housing. In addition, both propellers were damaged and the left wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was last inspected on March 13, 2008, at which time, the main gear camber and toe was adjusted. The failure occurred approximately 39.1 hours after this last inspection. On November 23, 1983, Cessna issued Service Kit SK 421-118, which called for the replacement of washers and for inspection of the main gear torque links. The Service Kit specified washer P/N 504518-2 to be installed under the bolt head and nut, with replacement washer P/N S1450-5H12-063 to be incorporated into the next revision to the Service Kit. Cessna issued a Service Information Letter in conjunction with the Service Kit for the purpose of "improved service life and main gear alignment retention." The washers listed in the Service Kit were not installed on the accident airplane. Compliance with the Service Kit and Service Information Letter is not mandatory.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,270 hours in all; 557 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,730 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2008; 79.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,579 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Spring CO at 10:30 pm
- Destination: STK Sterling CO
- Runway 33, 4,708 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from STK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.