Cessna 421A accident near Sabetha, Kansas, September 24, 1982
On September 24, 1982 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Cessna 421A, registered N2231Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sabetha, Kansas (Sabetha Muni airport). It was a public-use 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 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
- September 24, 1982 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sabetha, Kansas · Sabetha Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421A · all 421As on the register
- Registration
- N2231Q · no longer on the register · serial 421A0031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE GEAR INDICATED DOWN AND LOCKED PRIOR TO LANDING AND DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE LANDING ROLL. AFTER ABOUT 1,000 FT OF ROLL THE PLT GOT AN UNSAFE INDICATION AND THE LEFT WING BEGAN TO SETTLE. AFTER THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RWY. THE BOLT, P/N NAS464P4-26, WHICH ATTACHES THE BELLCRANK, PN 5041001-1, TO THE STRUT WAS SHEARED AND ONE SIDE OF THE CLEVIS AT THE LOWER END OF THE BELLCRANK. BOTH OF THESE BROKEN COMPONENTS COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH OVERLOAD CONDITIONS INDUCED WHEN THE GEAR COLLAPSED AND NEITHER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A HARD LANDING. THE LANDING GEAR COMPONENTS APPEARED TO HAVE ADEQUATE LUBRICATION. DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE THE RIGGING OF THE RETRACTION LINKAGE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT BE 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: 9,184 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,851 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 127 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,840 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Topeka KS at 9:45 am
- Destination: C Sabetha KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.