Cessna 421C accident near Leesburg, Virginia, April 5, 2023
On April 5, 2023 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 421C, registered N880JS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Leesburg, Virginia (Leesburg Exec 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
Separation of the left man landing gear scissor hardware, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2023 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Virginia · Leesburg Exec · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C, built 1979 · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N880JS · registry record · serial 421C-0489
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the airplane and reported that as the main landing gear touched down on the runway the airplane immediately veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder control input but was unable to control the airplane’s direction. The left main landing gear then collapsed as the airplane departed the runway surface and the airplane came to a stop off the left side of the runway. The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged during the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident. He observed that the left main landing gear trunnion was cracked and that the strut had separated from the trunnion. The inspector also found that the hardware connecting the scissor link was missing and that the scissor link did not display damage consistent with a shearing action or other abnormal stress. Given this information it is likely that the hardware securing the scissor was not present at the time of the landing, which allowed the left main landing gear wheel to freely castor about the strut, resulting in the loss of directional control at touchdown.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during unknown
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Not installed/available
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 913 hours in all; 158 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,873.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO-520-L2B (piston); 1,955 hours total
- Engine 3: Continental GTSIO-520-L2B (piston); 1,955 hours total
- Operator: Bravo Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: MQY Smyrna TN at 3:50 pm
- Destination: JYO Leesburg VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from JYO
Weather report (METAR): 1800Z 18015G23 SKC 10SM 30/16 A3000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 22, 2024. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airframe Maintenance Logs (Excerpt) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.