# Accident 20210710010559A: Cessna 421C, Longmont, CO, July 10, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 10, 2021, 08:24 local time
- Place: Longmont, CO
- Airport: Vance Brand
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1673° N, 105.1693° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1673&lon=-105.1693&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66NC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66NC-2023-12-26) (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 MOTOR GTSIO-520 SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,801 total, 169 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA315) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210710010559A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE PIC, THE AIRCRAFT LOADED 3 PASSENGERS AND LUGGAGE. THE FUEL ON BOARD WAS 100 GALLONS. AIRCRAFT WAS 900 POUNDS BELOW MGW. N66NC TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 29 AND CONDUCTED A NORMAL PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK IN THE RUN-UP AREA.

08:24 WHILE CONDUCTING SURVEILLANCE AT VANCE BRAND AIRPORT, (LMO) I OBSERVED AN AIRCRAFT DEPARTING RUNWAY 29. I WAS APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY FACING NW WHEN I HEARD THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTING. I WATCHED AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED DOWN THE RUNWAY PAST MY POSITION, AND I NOTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BECOME AIRBORNE BY THAT TIME. HE CONTINUED DOWN THE RUNWAY AND LIFTED SLIGHTLY TOWARD THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE THEN DESCENDED, STUCK THE GROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND SPUN CLOCKWISE. HE WAS LOST MOMENTARILY IN A CLOUD OF DUST, THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL RESPONDED TO THE LOCATION AND BEGAN TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS TO THE HOSPITAL.

ON-SITE INVESTIGATION DETAILS:

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 29.

AIRCRAFT LIFTED NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY BUT ONLY GAINED 5-10 FEET OF ALTITUDE BEFORE DESCENDING.

FIRST GROUND SCAR LOCATED AT 184 FT FROM END OF RUNWAY.

FUEL/OIL STAINS ON GRASS AND GROUND AT 306 FT.

BEGINNING OF PARTS DEBRIS FIELD AT 362 FT

GROUND SCAR AT PARAMETER ROAD BERM AT 521 FT.

BOTH MAIN LANDING LOCATED WITHIN 5 FT OF EACH OTHER AT 605 FT.

PROPELLER BLADE (LEFT ENGINE) LOCATED AT 639 FT.

MAIN BODY OF AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT 763 FT FACING NORTH.

BOTH ENGINES HAD POST IMPACT FIRE.

PILOT AND 2 PASSENGERS DEPARTED THE SCENE VIA AMBULANCE TO LOCAL HOSPITAL (LONGMONT UNITED) FOR CARE. PILOT HAD INJURY TO RIGHT WRIST. ONE PASSENGER (#2) DROVE OWN VEHICLE TO HOSPITAL WITH NO INJURIES. AIRCRAFT WAS SECURED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITHIN AIRPORT PROPERTY.

## 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 CEN21LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA315), Jul 10, 2021: Cessna 421C (N66NC), Longmont, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of performance for reasons that could not be determined.

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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