# NTSB FTW82FPM17: Cessna 421B, N8019Q, Afton, OK, September 25, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1982, 23:50 local (Sep 25, 1982, 04:50 UTC)
- Place: Afton, OK
- Location: 36.6965° N, 94.9575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Afton, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6965&lon=-94.9575&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69697
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FPM17
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69697/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FPM17

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - precautionary landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 1930 CDT, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED YUKON, OK ON A DIRECT FLIGHT TO ALTON, IL. IT LANDED AT ALTON AT ABOUT 2200 CDT, AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, IT DEPARTED ON A RETURN FLIGHT TO YUKON. BEFORE DEPARTING ALTON, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WOULD REFUEL AT SPRINGFIELD, MO WHILE ON THE RETURN TRIP. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE PLANE WAS REFUELED AT SPRINGFIELD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED NEAR AFTON, OK AT ABOUT 2350 CDT. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AT LOW ALTITUDE, THEN IT WENT INTO A LEFT BANK AND NOSE DIVED INTO THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A NEAR LEVEL ATTITUDE, BUT IN A STEEP ANGLE OF DESCENT. THE FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE ON THE GROUND, EXCEPT NEAR THE RIGHT TIP TANK. THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL SELECTORS WERE FOUNDPOSITIONED TO THE RIGHT MAIN TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8019Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8019Q-2003-09-12), registration cancelled 2003-09-12, S/N 421B0019, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0019
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 340 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ford Motor Credit Company
- Registered owner: Ford Motor Credit Company
- Departed: ALTON, IL
- Destination: YUKON, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,750 total, 150 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820924048889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820924048889A), Sep 24, 1982: Cessna 421B, Afton, OK, Destroyed. Aircraft was observed flying low and then diving into ground. Investigation revealed no fuel in 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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