Cessna 421C accident near Titusville, Florida, January 21, 1994
On January 21, 1994 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N777BE, was destroyed in an accident near Titusville, Florida (Space Center Executive airport). 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN VMC RESULTING IN THE INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF A SECTION OF PIPE ADJACENT TO A FLANGE WHICH CONNECTS TO THE TURBOCHARGER OIL OUTLET OF THE LEFT ENGINE ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1994 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Space Center Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N777BE · registry record · serial 421C0134
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES ON THE GROUND REPORTED THAT THE ENGINES SOUNDED NORMAL WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING TO TAKEOFF. AFTER TAKEOFF WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING WHITE SMOKE TRAILING THE LEFT ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BANK TO THE LEFT WITH A BANK ANGLE OF ABOUT 90 DEG. THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN, DESCENDED, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE OIL SEPARATOR FROM THE TURBOCHARGER ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT A SECTION OF PIPE NEAR A FLANGE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TURBOCHARGER OIL OUTLET FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THERE WAS NO OTHER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION NOTED WITH THE LEFT OR RIGHT ENGINES AND PROPELLERS. THE MIXTURE CONTROL ARM ON THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL UNIT WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUEL SELECTORS AND MAGNETO SWITCHES WERE ALSO FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. A PILOT-RATED PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE LEFT FORWARD SEAT.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from TIX, 1 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.