Cessna 421B accident near Old Bethpage, New York, January 10, 2021
On January 10, 2021 at about 6:01 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 421B, registered N421DP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Old Bethpage, New York (Republic Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2021 · about 6:01 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Old Bethpage, New York · Republic Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B, built 1972 · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N421DP · no longer on the register · serial 421B0353
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the initial climbout, about 1,000 ft above ground level, one of the engines stopped producing power. He confirmed that all engine controls were full forward and the main fuel tanks were selected. Immediately thereafter, the remaining engine began to surge, then stopped producing power. He established best glide speed and looked for an area to perform a forced landing. The airplane crashed into a solid waste disposal facility, about 2.3 nautical miles northwest of the departure airport. First responders arrived immediately after the accident and found only a trace amount of fuel within the confines of the accident site or in the fuel tanks. The only postaccident fire was centered on a small, localized area near the right engine turbocharger. Both main fuel tanks were empty, and the auxiliary bladder tanks were ruptured by impact forces. Examination of both engines revealed no evidence of a preaccident malfunction or anomaly. A surveillance video showed no evidence of smoke or mist training the airplane seconds prior to impact. The pilot reported that he departed the airport with 112 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot did not provide evidence of the latest refueling when requested by investigators. The available evidence is consistent with a total loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel exhaustion during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,893 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: October 17, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,331 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2020; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor GTSI0-520-H1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor GTSI0-520-H1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 6:00 pm
- Destination: BDR Bridgeport CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 6,833 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KFRG, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFRG 101853Z 33008KT 10SM CLR 05/M07 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP220 T00501072
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (FAA Photo)
Photo 2 – Right Wing and Engine (FAA Photo)
Photo 3 – Right Wing and Engine (FAA Photo)
Photo 4 – Left Wing and Engine (FAA Photo)
Photo 5 – Aft Cabin and Empennage (FAA Photo)
Photo 6 - Main Wreckage (FAA Photo)
Photo 7 - Cockpit (FAA Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N421DP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N421DP: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 421 Golden Eagle 768 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,676 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor GTSI0-520-H1B 179 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Cont Motor GTSI0-520-H1B 179 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Republic Airport · nearest airport
- Bridgeport/Sikorsky Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in New York 1,964 since 1982 · 249 in the last ten years
- New York 6,659 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N421DP 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA21LA098.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.