# Accident 19960429046099A: Cessna 421, Bernard, IA, April 29, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 1996, 15:15 local time
- Place: Bernard, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: RK9A
- Location: 42.3098° N, 90.8296° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3098&lon=-90.8296&mi=10
- Aircraft: N341DA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N341DA-2013-03-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421 (registry code 2076010, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421
- Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 6,100 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA146) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960429046099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)DURING FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED SHUTTING DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DIVERTED TOWARD AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, WHILE DIVERTING, RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST, AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED. THE WRECKAGE PATH COVERED A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET; THE DESCENT ANGLE DURING IMPACT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 45 DEGREES. OIL WAS FOUND BEHIND THE LEFT ENGINE, ON THE LEFT FLAP, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. ALSO, FUEL STAINS WERE SEEN IN THE GRASS AROUND THE AIRPLANE. NO PREIMPACT FIRE INDICATIONS WERE FOUND. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED LOW OIL PRESSURE IN THE LEFT ENGINE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, AND PURCHASED SEVEN QUARTS OF OIL BEFORE DEPARTING. NO INDICATIONS OF POWER AT IMPACT WERE SEEN ON EITHER ENGINE OR PROPELLER. NUMEROUS ABNORMALITIES EXISTED WITH THE LEFT ENGINE. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE FARMER WHO FOUND THE WRECKAGE REPORTED THAT SLEET WAS FALLING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED STRUCTURAL ICING CONDITIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96FA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA146), Apr 29, 1996: Cessna 421 (N341DA), Bernard, IA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's operation of the airplane with known deficiencies, subsequent loss of oil from the left engine, and the pilot's failure to maintain minimum controllable airspeed (VMC), while diverting to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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