Cessna 421B accident near Lakeland, Florida, May 15, 1985
On May 15, 1985 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N8083Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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 15, 1985 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · Lakeland Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8083Q · no longer on the register · serial 421B0113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF AT LAKELAND, FL, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT & STRUCK THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PLT DID NOT KNOW THE WHEEL HAD COME OFF UNTIL HE WAS NOTIFIED BY ATC. HE THEN DIVERTED TO TAMPA & MADE 2 LOW PASSES TO COMFIRM THE PROBLEM. HE ELECTED TO LAND GEAR UP ON RWY 27 AT TAMPA. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED WHICH ALLOWED THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,203 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 3,122 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GSP Greenville SC
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from TPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.