# Accident 20121110024689A: Cessna 421C, Shaver Lake, CA, November 10, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 10, 2012, 19:30 local time
- Place: Shaver Lake, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0958° N, 119.2992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0958&lon=-119.2992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N700EM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700EM-2018-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 421C (registry code 2076016, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GTSIO-520-C (registry code 17035, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR GTSIO-520-C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 637 total, 102 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121110024689A

## Narrative

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

SCOTT CLARKE DEPARTED THE SALINAS AIRPORT (KSNS) ON NOVEMBER 11, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 1830 LOCAL.  MR. CLARKE HAD 173 GALLONS OF FUEL ADDED TO THE AIRCRAFT AND PURCHASED 4 QUARTS OF OIL BEFORE THE FLIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED BETWEEN 1400 AND 1600 LOCAL TIME.  MR. CLARKE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER FOR THE RETURN TRIP TO OMAHA.  BEFORE DEPARTURE MR. CLARKE HAD A KNOWN INOPERATIVE VACUUM PUMP ON THE LEFT ENGINE.  MR. CLARKE MADE THE DECISION TO FLY WITH THE PUMP INOPERATIVE.  A REPLACEMENT PUMP COULD HAVE BEEN OBTAINED BY TUESDAY ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC.  MR. CLARKE CLIMBED THE AIRCRAFT TO 27,000 FEET WHERE THE AIRCRAFT LEVELED OFF FOR THE TRIP.  APPROXIMATELY 6 MINUTES AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 27,000 FEET , OAKLAND CENTER SAW THE AIRCRAFT DEPART 27,000 FEET IN A STEEP DESCENT.  A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING OVER THE TOWN OF SHAVER LAKE, CA. AND WITNESSED AN "EXPLOSION".  WE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, WHICH WAS ALSO WERE THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS MISSING ITS WINGS OUTBOARD OF THE ENGINE NACELLES AND WAS ALSO MISSING THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.  THE WINGS WERE LOCATED ½ MILE SOUTH EAST OF THE IMPACT SITE AND PIECES OF THE STABILIZER WERE FOUND UP TO 1 MILE SOUTH EAST OF THE IMPACT SITE.  FIRE CONSUMED THE FUSELAGE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE REAR BULKHEAD.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED TO A SITE IN SACRAMENTO FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

## 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 WPR13FA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13FA037), Nov 11, 2012: Cessna 421C (N700EM), Shaver Lake, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to regain airplane control following a sudden rapid descent during cruise, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make…

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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