Cessna 421A accident near Richlands, Virginia, May 3, 1994
On May 3, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 421A, registered N2211W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richlands, Virginia (Tazewell County airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE HARD LANDING, AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED RATE OF DESCENT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Richlands, Virginia · Tazewell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421A · all 421As on the register
- Registration
- N2211W · registry record · serial 421A-0118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL. HE REPORTED: 'UPON TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE VIBRATED AND WENT FAR BELOW THE NORMAL POSITION. I QUICKLY APPLIED FULL BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE AND THE MAINS FELL BACK TO THE RUNWAY.' FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED: 'INVESTIGATION...REVEALED EVIDENCE AND AIRCRAFT DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH HARD LANDING IMPACT WITH RUNWAY SURFACE. PILOT HAD MINIMAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN [THIS] MODEL AIRCRAFT.' BOTH WINGS WERE OBSERVED TO BE BENT DOWN DURING THE EXAMINATION BY THE FAA INSPECTORS. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 6 HOURS IN THIS MODEL AIRPLANE.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 820 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 668 as pilot in command; 36 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1988; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,840 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FOK Suffolk County NY at 2:00 pm
- Destination: GDY Grundy VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 4,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC94LA084.