Cessna 421C accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, February 23, 1982
On February 23, 1982, a Cessna 421C, registered N5358J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island (Westerly State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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
- February 23, 1982
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island · Westerly State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5358J · registry record · serial 421C0671
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD DURING A NIGHT LANDING AFTER THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS IN FLIGHT. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD 1/2 TO 3/4 INCH OF ICE ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS AND VERTICLE STABILIZER. THE GROSS LANDING WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 7519 LBS WITH THE CENTER-OF- GRAVITY NEAR THE FORWARD LIMIT. THE MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED LANDING WEIGHT WAS 7200 LBS.
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: 3,324 hours in all; 674 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 3,324 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 706 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Luna Industries, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CRE
- Destination: WST
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 7, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from WST
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.