Cessna 421B accident near Flamingo, Florida, November 9, 1990
On November 9, 1990 at about 7:47 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N21ST, was destroyed in an accident near Flamingo, Florida. It was a personal 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
AN UNDETERMINED AIRFRAME/COMPONENT/SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A FUEL FED FIRE IN THE LEFT WING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1990 · about 7:47 pm local time
- Place
- Flamingo, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N21ST · no longer on the register · serial 421B-0963
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE ACFT (N21ST) WAS EN ROUTE ON A FLT FROM KEY WEST TO NAPLES, FL, THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT SAW A 'FIRE BALL' IN THE VCNTY OF WHERE N21ST SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED. WHEN N21ST DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FND THE NEXT DAY AT 1704 EST, IN THE EVERGLADES NATL PARK, NR FLAMINGO, FL. DRG IMPACT, THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS BURIED IN 30' OF MUD. THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING SECTION (FM JUST OUTBOARD OF THE ENG NACELLE TO THE WING TIP) WAS FND APRX 1 MI FM THE MAINWRECKAGE. AN EXAM REVEALED THE WING HAD FAILED WHERE THE NACELLE FUEL TANK & THE AUX FUEL TANK BOOST PUMPS WERE MOUNTED.NO EXHAUST SYS FAILURE OR LEAKAGE FM THE FUEL TANKS WAS FND IN THE AREA OF THE FIRE. THE GREATEST FIRE DMG WAS AT A POINT WHERE THE LEFT NACELLE FUEL TANK BOOST PUMP WAS MOUNTED & AFT FM THERE TO WHERE THE REAR WING SPAR HAD BURNED THRU. THE ELEC FUEL BOOST PUMPS WERE NOT RECOVERED AFTER THE ACDNT. THE IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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
- Flight time: 10,100 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,741 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1990; 51 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: EYW Key West FL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: APF Naples FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from MTH, 30 miles away
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.