# Accident 20231111020669A: Cessna 421B, Lake City, FL, November 11, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 11, 2023, 14:45 local time
- Place: Lake City, FL
- Airport: Lake City Gateway
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1816° N, 82.5681° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1816&lon=-82.5681&mi=10
- Aircraft: N977SM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N977SM) (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 MOTOR GTSIO-520-C
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,341 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231111020669A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATEMENT REVEALED THAT AFTER ROTATION AND INITIAL CLIMB-OUT, HE BELIEVES HE EXPERIENCED A WEATHER ANOMALY SUCH AS A MICROBURST THAT CAUSED A LOSS OF AERODYNAMIC LIFT. WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING, AND THE LANDING GEAR IN TRANSITION TO THE STOWED POSITION, THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A GEAR-UP LANDING. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLORS AND UNDERSIDE FUSELAGE. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE IS SUSPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED 21JUN2023, HOBBS 1945.3, AIRCRAFT TT 6852.2 HRS. NTSB INVESTIGATOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INTERVIEWED THE PILOT AND CONCLUDED WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE NTSB IS PERFORMING A WEATHER ANALYSIS AND WILL DETERMINE CAUSE(S) OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA24LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA041), Nov 11, 2023: Cessna 421 (N977SM), Lake City, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A landing gear collapse following an aborted takeoff due to degraded climb 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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