# Accident 19980806019849A: Cessna 421B, Columbus, IN, August 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 6, 1998, 04:50 local time
- Place: Columbus, IN
- Airport: Columbus Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JRAA
- Location: 39.2304° N, 85.8309° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2304&lon=-85.8309&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5MJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5MJ-2001-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421B (registry code 2076014, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520H
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,145 total, 594 in this make and model, 127 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA302) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980806019849A

## Narrative

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

(.4) UPON REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 400 AGL AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LEFT SIDE DOOR ON THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR OPENED. THE PILOT-IN- COMMAND INITIATED A LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE TURN THE STALL HORN SOUNDED. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH PILOTS DID A PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. BOTH PILOTS WERE QUALIFIED TO ACT AS PIC FOR THE FLIGHT AND THIS FLIGHT WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN A SINGLE PILOT OPERATION. HOWEVER, THE COMPANY WHO HIRED THE OPERATOR TO TRANSPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES REQUESTED TWO PILOTS. THE OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE ANY WRITTEN PROCEDURES REGARDING THE DIVISION OF DUTIES FOR A TWO PILOT OPERATION ON THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE # CHI98LA302

## 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 CHI98LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA302), Aug 6, 1998: Cessna 421B (N5MJ), Columbus, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot-in-commands failure to maintain airspeed and the subsequent stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident were the open baggage door and the inadequate aircraft preflight.

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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