Cessna 421 accident near Richmond, Virginia, April 18, 2026
On April 18, 2026 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 421, registered CGTGR, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Richmond, Virginia (Richmond Intl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2026 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, Virginia · Richmond Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 C, built 1976 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- CGTGR · no longer on the register · serial 421C0061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 18, 2026, about 1410 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 421C, C-GTGR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Richmond, Virginia. The pilot and four passengers were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The pilot reported that they were departing from the Richmond International Airport (RIC), Richmond, Virginia. After advancing the throttles to full power for takeoff, he noted an asymmetric power condition, which required left rudder input to maintain the runway’s centerline. As the ground speed increased, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot reduced both throttles to idle; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and the left wing struck an airport sign, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot subsequently taxied to the ramp, secured the airplane, and all occupants deplaned without injury. Data was successfully downloaded from the airplane’s engine monitor and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC, for further examination. The airframe and engines were retained for further examination.
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 engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,016.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 2025; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,610 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Manufactures Transport Inc.
The flight
- Destination: CYKF Waterloo Wellington OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 16, 9,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from RIC
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRIC 181754Z 21009KT 10SM SCT070 BKN250 31/09 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP134 T03110089 10311 20172 58014 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA183.