Cessna 421B accident near Driggs, Idaho, September 20, 2003
On September 20, 2003 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N41053, was substantially damaged in an accident near Driggs, Idaho (Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport). It was a personal 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 collapse of the nose landing gear while taxiing due to the failure of the nose wheel bearing. A factor was the lack of lubrication.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2003 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Driggs, Idaho · Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N41053 · no longer on the register · serial 421B0419
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing and proceeding on the centerline, the pilot began to make a right turn following the taxi marker onto a taxiway. When the aircraft was off the runway, a brief and unusual nose wobble was detected. The nose of the aircraft then dropped to the runway and the propellers struck the pavement, causing the aircraft to come to an immediate stop. After separating from the aircraft, the nose wheel was observed approximately 3 to 5 feet from where it came to rest. It was observed that the wheel was smoking from the heat at the center bearing axle shaft, and there was a considerable amount of debris scattered near the front and rear of the aircraft. There was also debris from the nose wheel bearing housing found as far as 500 feet behind the aircraft. The nose landing gear structural attach points were substantially damaged. An FAA inspector reported the nose wheel bearing had failed and separated from the nose fork. The inspector also reported that the bearing and roller retainer on one side of the axle had disintegrated and was missing, while the bearing on the opposite side was void of any lubrication.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 44 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 7, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2002; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental GTSIO520H1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental GTSIO520H1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 10:10 pm
- Destination: U59 Driggs ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 7,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from JAC, 18 miles away
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.