Cessna 421B accident near Johnson City, New York, April 2, 1985
On April 2, 1985 at about 9:46 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N5407J, was destroyed in an accident near Johnson City, New York (Edwin A. Link Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- April 2, 1985 · about 9:46 pm local time
- Place
- Johnson City, New York · Edwin A. Link Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5407J · no longer on the register · serial 421B0955
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A HEAVY SNOW SHOWER PASSED OVER THE AIRPORT, THE ACCIDENT ACFT ATTEMPTED A DEPARTURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT TRANSMITTED THAT HE WAS COMING BACK TO LAND.THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT USE NEARLY ALL OF THE 4,999 FT RWY AND GRADUALLY DESCEND OUT OF SIGHT PRIOR TO THE CRASH. A CESSNA CONQUEST HAD DEPARTED THE SAME RWY MOMENTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT ACFT AND EXPERIENCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PORBLEMS DUE TO SLUSH ON THE RWY AND AIRFRAME ICING ON THEIR ACFT.
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: 1,350 hours in all; 780 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1984; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: TOL Toledo OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 4,999 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:44 pm from BGM, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.