Cessna 421 accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, June 9, 2019
On June 9, 2019 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 421, registered N421WL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Moriarty, New Mexico (Moriarty Muni airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2019 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · Moriarty Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421 B, built 1973 · all 421s on the register
- Registration
- N421WL · no longer on the register · serial 421B0328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the multiengine airplane reported that, during approach, he was too high and too fast. He pulled both throttles to idle, and the airplane "got too slow." About 1/4 mile from the runway, he reduced the flaps from full (third notch) to the second notch. He added that, above the runway, he heard the stall warning horn sound and that he then flared the airplane, which landed hard. The left main landing gear and nosewheel tires popped. He was able to taxi back to the hangar without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing spars. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 108° at 4 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 08.
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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,480 hours in all; 419 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,357 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,775 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 6,100 as pilot in command; 2,685 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 16, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,811.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 1,585 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 2,370 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 4:19 pm
- Destination: 0E0 Moriarty NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 7,702 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KCQC, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 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 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 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.