Cessna 421C accident near Jackson, California, January 7, 2017
On January 7, 2017 at about 1:20 am local time, a 1977 Cessna 421C, registered N71RC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jackson, California (Westover Field Amador County). It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear torque link bolt in overstress, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2017 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Jackson, California · Westover Field Amador County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C C, built 1977 · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N71RC · no longer on the register · serial 421C0423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that, during the landing roll at the end of a cross-country flight, when he attempted to lightly apply the brakes, the airplane began to yaw from side to side. The airplane subsequently exited the right side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed. An on-site examination revealed that the right main landing gear torque link assembly had separated at the hinge attach point due to the failure of the torque link bolt. Although the bolt was located at the accident site, the bolt's nut, cotter pin, and washer were missing. Further examination revealed that the torque link bolt threads had been rounded over and exhibited remnants of material consistent with the threads of the mating nut. In addition, remnants of the cotter pin that was installed through the bolt hole were visible. The sheared cotter pin and threads from the nut that remained within the bolt threads suggest that the torque link bolt/nut assembly was overloaded, which resulted in the landing gear collapse. A Federal Aviation Administration special airworthiness information bulletin had been issued about 3 years before the accident to advise owners, operators, and maintenance technicians of the make and model airplane of the need to inspect the main landing gear torque link assembly to ensure the correct thickness of washers and to ensure that the washers are installed properly, and a Cessna service bulletin had also been issued previously regarding the washers. However, no maintenance records were available to determine the airplane's maintenance history or compliance with the applicable bulletins.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,802 hours in all; 62 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,929.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 11, 2016; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming LTP 101-600 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTP 101-600 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA
- Destination: JAQ Jackson CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 19, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 9, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Iic's Initial Investigation Notes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Cessna Service Bulletin MEB02-12 - Main Landing Gear Torque Link Inspection | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Cessna Service Information Letter ME83-37 (Main Landing Gear Scissor Washer Replacemrnt) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-14-19 - Landing Gear; Main Landing Gear (Mlg) Torque Link | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Textron Permission to Use Proprietary Documents | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.