Cessna 421C accident near Crescent City, California, March 5, 2003
On March 5, 2003 at about 6:45 am local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N26533, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crescent City, California (Crescent City airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the upper and lower right main landing gear scissor links due to improper maintenance, which resulted in a ground loop, and the collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2003 · about 6:45 am local time
- Place
- Crescent City, California · Crescent City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N26533 · registry record · serial 421C0686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The right main landing gear scissors separated during the landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and the collapse of the right main landing gear. Post accident examination of the right landing gear scissors assembly revealed that a hinge bolt assembly had failed. Recent maintenance had reportedly been performed on both main landing gears. A Cessna Service Information Letter, ME83-37, dated November 23, 1983, recommended main landing gear scissor washer replacement for airplanes with serial numbers that included the accident airplane. The Service Letter recommended replacement of the two outer washers on the main landing gear scissor link for improved service life, and main gear wheel alignment retension. The Service Letter called for the installation of a new AN175-20 scissor bolt, and one 5045018-2 washer under the head of the bolt for each main landing gear scissors. Post accident examination of the scissor assembly revealed two damaged washers under the head of the scissors bolt, with diameters only slightly larger than the extreme hex points of the bolt head. The two washers were significantly smaller than the recommended washers, and were extruded, or bent towards, the scissor bolt head, which allowed the upper and lower scissor assembly to disconnect.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,518 hours in all; 933 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,886.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 2003; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR
- Destination: CEC Crescent City CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 am from CEC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.