# Accident 20031129034299A: Cessna 421B, Kelso, CA, November 29, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 2003, 12:25 local time
- Place: Kelso, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0125° N, 115.6536° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kelso, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0125&lon=-115.6536&mi=10
- Aircraft: N444AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444AM-2013-07-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421B (registry code 2076014, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSIO-520-C (registry code 17035, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520C
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Pilot flight hours: 11,380 total, 15 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031129034299A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 29, 2003, N444AM (CESSNA 421-B) TOOK OFF FROM BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA ENROUTE TO VAN NUYS, CA. AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 LOCAL TIME, N444AM CRASHED AND BURNED SOUTHEAST OF KELSO, CA FATALLY INJURING ALL 5 SOULS ONBOARD. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AND FIRE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND COCKPIT PREVENTED TOXICOLOGY TESTING. ONSITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT N444AM SUSTAINED AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE EMPENNAGE PORTION OF THE FLIGHT. RADAR REPORTS, PRIOR TO THE CRASH, SHOWED UNUSUAL ALTITUDE AND HEADING CHANGES WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM AIRSPEED AND MANUFACTURER DESIGN LOADING LIMITATIONS.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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