# NTSB ERA26LA314: Cessna 421, N28RH, Fulton, KY, August 21, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 21, 2026, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Fulton, KY · GPS coordinates from first responders - Coordinates: 36.522871, -88.944625 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5229&lon=-88.9446&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Wrong fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203660/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203660 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA314 ## Probable cause The misfuelling of the airplane by the refueler. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to verify that the airplane had been properly fueled prior to departing on the accident flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Wrong fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194/sequence.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/194/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 421C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2076016), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the reciprocating, multi-engine airplane reported that, after takeoff while climbing to altitude, the #1 cylinder on the right engine was running hot. He leveled the airplane at 5,000 mean sea level (msl), but the cylinder continued to run hot, so he elected to feather the propeller and shut down the engine. As he attempted to navigate to an airport, he noticed that the other engine was beginning to deteriorate and he was no longer able to maintain altitude. He attempted to increase power on the remaining engine but about 2 miles from the airport he performed a forced landing to a cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right engine mount, fuselage, and empennage as a result. A first responder on scene sampled fuel from one of the airplane’s fuel tanks with a paper towel and reported that the fuel did not have any color to it. She also reported that the fuel smelled like diesel fuel. A postaccident interview with the fueler at the departure airport confirmed that he had topped off the airplane with “pre-mixed Jet-A.” The airport manager at the departure airport confirmed that the fueler used Jet-A fuel when filling the airplane. A fuel receipt was provided by the airport manager, and was signed by the pilot, that showed the airplane had been fueled with 145 gallons of Jet-A. In an interview with the pilot, he reported that he did not specifically tell the fueler that he wanted 100LL in the airplane. He also stated that he did read the fuel receipt after fueling and that they “wanted to get home” so they “got in the airplane and left.” The pilot did not inspect or sample fuel from the airplane’s tanks after the fuel was added. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28RH), registered now, S/N 421C0847, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 421 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-series) (registry code 17039, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421C0847 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 7898.9 - Engines: Continental Aerospace Technology GTSIO-520-L 375 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Aerospace Technologies GTSIO-520-L 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: National Airplane Sales & Leasing Corp - Registered owner: National Airplane Sales & Leasing Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2026 - Departed: BYH, BLYTHEVILLE, AR - Destination: AOH, Lima, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 1M7, Fulton, runway 09, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: UCY, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KUCY 141755Z AUTO 24008KT 10SM CLR 36/24 A3006 RMK A01 ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203660. 25.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20870698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20869917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport fueler interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20870194&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20Airport%20Fueler%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport manager interview (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20870204&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20Airport%20Manager%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - First responder interview (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20869642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20First%20Responder%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel receipt (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 13.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20869807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20Fuel%20Receipt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 7, PDF, 8 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20869817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA314%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.