- Date
- January 13, 1992, 16:06 local (21:06 UTC)
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)
- Injuries
- 5 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N40JKCessna 421C
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920113000469A
- Case key
- 8494
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and his continued flight into known adverse weather conditions. Factors were: the improper weather briefing by a flight service station specialist, and level iii thunderstorms.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
At 0716, the pilot rcvd a wx brief for a proposed takeoff of 1130. The fss briefer provided info on tstms forecast in ga & FL. No info was provided about forecast lines & clusters of tstms in SC cstl plains & sern ga. En route, the pilot was given info about level iii tstms across the projected flight path by beaufort & savannah appch cntrl. ATC radar data revealed that the acft flew the route contained in the flight plan clearance. Radio transmissions from the acft indicated that onboard wx radar was being used. ATC radar data & radio communications indicated that the acft entered a tstm, then made a 180 degree turn to exit the storm. Examination of the wreckage revealed plastic deformation of the wings inboard of the engines in an upward direction. Also, both wings broke off outboard of the engines in a downward direction. The horizontal stab & elevator were not recovered. There was fuselage damage which indicated that the horizontal stab separated aft & down.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40JK
- Reported as
- Cessna 421C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 42100441
- Engine
- Continental GTSIO-520-L, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Williamson, J. M.
- Registered owner
- Williamson, J. M.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 26, 1991
- Departed
- MIV · Milville, NJ
- Destination
- X26 · Sebastian, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,064 total · 500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SSI, 30 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.