Cessna 421 accident near Woodruff, Wisconsin, February 10, 2019
On February 10, 2019 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 421, registered N581CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Woodruff, Wisconsin (Lakeland/Noble F Lee Memorial 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain to directional control during takeoff from a snow-covered runway with a right, quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2019 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Woodruff, Wisconsin · Lakeland/Noble F Lee Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 B, built 1972 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N581CJ · registry record · serial 421B0343
- 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 takeoff roll on a plowed, snow-covered runway, he could "feel the [airplane] pulling to the right" and corrected with opposite rudder, but the airplane slowly exited the runway to the right and impacted a snowbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both propellers and the right engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 110° at 5 knots, 1 1/4 statute miles visibility, overcast at 900 ft, temperature 18°F, dew point 12°F, and light snow. The airplane departed from runway 36.
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 takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,881 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 6, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,072.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 7,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSI0-520-H5B (piston); 1,948 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental GTSI0-520-F-K (piston); 1,988 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARV Woodruff WI at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 1H0 St Louis MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 5,150 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KARV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 16, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Ia | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.