Cessna 421 accident near Charleston, South Carolina, March 20, 2014
On March 20, 2014 at about 4:05 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 421, registered N5929M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston Afb/Intl airport). It was a personal 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
Inadequate maintenance, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2014 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina · Charleston Afb/Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 B, built 1972 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N5929M · no longer on the register · serial 421B0312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was concluding a personal flight with two passengers on board. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll and after a normal touchdown on the concrete runway, the right main landing gear (MLG) collapsed. The airplane then veered right and struck two runway lights, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing rear spar. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right MLG down-lock bellcrank was fractured and had separated from its respective trunnion. The bellcrank bolt was sheared at the bolt head, consistent with overload. The upper end of the bellcrank remained attached to the outboard push-pull tube. The lower end of the bellcrank, which attached to the rod end fitting at the lower side link, was broken, consistent with a ductile tension failure. The fracture location was consistent with additional stress that would have been placed on the bellcrank if the landing gear was not properly rigged; however, damage to the landing gear precluded the ability to functionally check or verify whether the gear was properly rigged. Review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane had been operated for about 4 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 2 months before the accident. At that time, maintenance, including the adjustment of the right MLG travel, was performed on the airplane.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,760 hours in all; 1,665 in this make and model; 2,640 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 27, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2014; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,449 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cont Motor GTSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor GTSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CUB Columbia SC at 3:30 pm
- Destination: CHS Charleston SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 153°F (67°C), dew point 115°F (46°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from CHS
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.