Cessna 421C accident near Tulare, California, February 23, 1994
On February 23, 1994 at about 3:15 am local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N7039T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulare, California (Mefford Field). 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 use of an excessive taxi speed, and his misjudgment of the distance to the approaching intersection. A factor in the accident was the dark night lighting conditions which effected the pilot's perception of the taxiway layout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1994 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Tulare, California · Mefford Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7039T · registry record · serial 421C0465
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that when he had previously taxied to the ramp after landing he had noticed that his right brake felt 'mushy', and he had had a 'little problem' in making two 90-degree right turns. As he made two more 90-degree right turns, however, his brakes began to function normally. The pilot stated that before departure he checked the braking action of both his right and left brakes, and they responded normally. He then taxied toward runway 13 along a parallel taxiway. He stated that as he reached a 45-degree intersecting taxiway connecting with the approach end of runway 13, he applied his brakes to make the turn, without effect. The aircraft continued straight ahead, off the end of the taxiway and into a ditch, sustaining substantial structural damage. An inspection of the brakes revealed no discrepancies.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,677 hours in all; 840 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,483 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSI0-520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Bakersfield CA at 2:30 am
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,914 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.