Cessna 421B accident near Buckeye, Arizona, May 7, 1983
On May 7, 1983 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N315CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Harquahala Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 7, 1983 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Harquahala Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N315CC · no longer on the register · serial 421B 0810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD MADE 3 NIGHT LANDINGS AT THE STRIP DURING THE PAST 6 MTHS. THE PROCEDURE THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR LIGHTING THESTRIP WAS TO PLACE A VEHICLE AT THE WEST END WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FACING EAST DOWN THE CENTERLINE OF THE STRIP. HOWEVER, ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE EAST END OF THE STRIP WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FACING EAST OUT INA FIELD. WHEN APPROACHING FROM THE EAST, THE STRIP IS THE LAST IN A SERIES OF 3 SIMILARLY LOOKING FIELDS. WHEN THE PLT THOUGHT HE WAS AT THE NORMAL DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS, HE REDUCED POWER AND LANDED SHORT.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,346 hours in all; 284 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GYR Goodyear AZ at 2:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 am from PHX, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.