# NTSB FTW80FRD11: Cessna 421B, N5970M, Lafayette, LA, December 9, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 9, 1979
- Place: Lafayette, LA · LAFAYETTE, LA
- Location: 30.2241° N, 92.0198° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lafayette, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2241&lon=-92.0198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132954
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FRD11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRD11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3109   79/12/9   LAFAYETTE,LA        CESSNA 421B         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 1413
        TIME - 1530                    N5970M              PX-  0  1  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 101 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAFAYETTE RGNL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAFAYETTE,LA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FAILURE OF TWO OR MORE ENGINES
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- MAIN TANK,FUEL QNTY GAGES INOP.MAIN TANKS EMPTY,AUX TANKS FULL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5970M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5970M-1982-11-26), registration cancelled 1982-11-26, S/N 421B0213 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Lafayette Rgnl

## 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 19791209034119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791209034119A), Dec 9, 1979: Cessna 421B, Lafayette, LA, Substantial damage. Main fuel tanks empty. Fuel quantity indicators showed full fuel. Fuel was available in auxiliary tanks

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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