Cessna 421 accident near Addison, Texas, July 19, 1986
On July 19, 1986 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 421, registered N6VR, was destroyed in an accident near Addison, Texas (Addison airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1986 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N6VR · no longer on the register · serial 421-0027
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND CLIMB WAS MADE TO AN ALT OF APRX 400 FT AGL AT WHICH TIME ENG PWR CEASED/ DECREASED. THE RT WING THEN DROPPED, THE NOSE AND LT WING ROSE AND THE ACFT ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT TO GROUND IMPACT. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGS AND TURBOCHARGERS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURES. EXAM OF THE PROP GOVENORS DISCLOSED AN RPM SETTING BELOW TAKEOFF OR CLIMB PWR; HOWEVER, EXACT RPM SETTING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS ACFT AND MOST OF HIS MULTI-ENGINE EXPERIENCE WAS IN BEECH BARONS. THE THROTTLE QUADRANT LOCATION OF THE THROTTLE AND PROP CONTROLS ON THE BARON ARE IN THE REVERSE POSITION OF THOSE ON THE C-421. THE PLT ALSO HAD NOT BEEN CHECK OUT IN THE C-421.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,896 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1986; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: PDK Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from ADS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.