# Accident 20040923029829A: Cessna 421C, Bee Cave, TX, September 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2004, 16:18 local time
- Place: Bee Cave, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3072° N, 97.8950° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3072&lon=-97.8950&mi=10
- Aircraft: N729DM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N729DM-2009-01-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421C (registry code 2076016, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSIO-520 series (registry code 17039, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520N
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04FA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA243) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040923029829A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2004, AIRCRAFT N729DM, A CESSNA 421C, S/N421C1101, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WEST OF AUSTIN IN BEE CAVE, TX. THE AIRCRAFT WAS INBOUND TO BERGSTROM AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE AND WAS DIVERTED TO LAKEWAY AIRPARK BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY. THE PILOT CALLED BACK TO AUSTIN TOWER AND SAID "I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT"! THE PILOT AND A FEMALE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT AND POST FIRE. A MALE PASSENGER SURVIVED THE CRASH BUT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. A COPY OF THIS REPORT WILL BE SENT TO THE SPM.

## 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 FTW04FA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04FA243), Sep 23, 2004: Cessna 421C (N729DM), Bee Caves, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector valves, which resulted in a loss of power to the left engine due to fuel exhaustion. After the power loss, the pilot failed to follow checklist…

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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