# NTSB CHI81DAMS2: Cessna 421B, N9394A, Muskegon, MI, December 29, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 29, 1980
- Place: Muskegon, MI · MUSKEGON, MI
- Location: 43.2265° N, 86.2572° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Muskegon, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2265&lon=-86.2572&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127639
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81DAMS2
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DAMS2

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3628  80/12/29 NR.MUSKEGON,MI        CESSNA 421B         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 2400
        TIME - 1426                    N9394A              PX-  4  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WAUKESHA,WI                 NEW HAVEN,CT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- PLT REPORTED UN RESTART ENG,LOSING ALL CONTROL.OVR LAKE MICH.ACFT NOT RCVRD.DMG,INJ INDEX PRESUMED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9394A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9394A-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 421B-0531, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19801229079619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801229079619A), Dec 29, 1980: Cessna 421B, Muskegan, MI, 4 fatal. Pilot reported engine out, loss of control. Radar shows rapid descent. Presumed crashed in lake. Lacked IFR skill.

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.

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