Cessna 421C accident near Eagle Mountain, California, March 12, 1993
On March 12, 1993 at about 4:20 am local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N2656N, was destroyed in an accident near Eagle Mountain, California. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE LEFT ELEVATOR FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), WHICH RESULTED IN FLUTTER AND FAILURE OF THE EMPENNAGE, AND SUBSEQUENT UNCONTROLLED COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1993 · about 4:20 am local time
- Place
- Eagle Mountain, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2656N · no longer on the register · serial 714
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 421 CRASHED AFTER AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY (INCLUDING THE BALANCE WEIGHT) SEPARATED FIRST, RESULTING IN EMPENNAGE FLUTTER & SUBSEQUENT IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE EMPENNAGE. THE LEFT ELEVATOR OUTBOARD HINGE & SUPPORT STRUCTURE EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF HINGE OVERTRAVEL. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER FRONT SPAR HAD FAILED DOWNWARD; RIVETS THAT ATTACHED THE LEFT OUTBOARD HINGE TO THE REAR SPAR OF THE LEFT STABILIZER HAD SHEARED; AND THE LEFT ELEVATOR CENTER HINGE HAD BEEN PULLED OFF THE REAR SPAR. ABOUT 100 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED TO REPAIR THE LEFT ELEVATOR BALANCE WEIGHT (WHICH WAS LOOSE) & TO REPAIR A DAMAGED STIFFENER IN THE CENTER STRUCTURE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. HOWEVER, WHEN EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BALANCE WEIGHT WAS TIGHT & THE REPAIR TO THE STIFFENER WAS INTACT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,250 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,869 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 3, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: UDD Bermuda Dunes CA at 4:00 am
- Destination: P20 Parker AZ
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 am from TRM, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.