# NTSB FTW89FA074: Cessna 421, N4595L, Brownsville, TX, March 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1989, 18:34 local (Mar 29, 1989, 00:34 UTC)
- Place: Brownsville, TX
- Coordinates: 26.480621, -97.919654 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4806&lon=-97.9197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22764
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22764/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA074

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AFTER LOSSING POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FUEL STARVATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE, THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT, AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUEL SYSTEM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - 1 engine
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel system - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NEWLY HIRED CORPORATE PILOT STARVED THE RIGHT ENGINE OF FUEL ON THE MULTI-ENGINE AIRPLANE WHILE ON A LOCAL AREA SELF CHECKOUT IN THE AIRPLANE. HE DID NOT FEATHER THE RIGHT PROPELLER. AT THE TIME OF THE NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF POWER, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN LOW LEVEL (600 FEET AGL) CRUISE. THE PILOT LOWERED THE FLAPS TO 45 DEGREES AND EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR TO THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED DECREASED BELOW VMC AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED, WENT OUT OF CONTROL, AND IMPACTED OPEN RANCH LAND NOSE LOW, IN A VERTICAL DESCENT ANGLE. A POST-IMPACT FIRE OCCURRED. THE PILOT LACKED KNOWLEDGE OF THE AIRPLANE SYSTEMS AND LACKED EXPERIENCE IN THE CESSNA 421.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4595L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4595L-2013-11-12), registration cancelled 2013-11-12, S/N 421-0195, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421
- Registry model: [Cessna 421](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421) (registry code 2076010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0195
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Camel Leasing Co.
- Departed: BRO, BROWNSVILLE, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; foreign, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,215 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BRO, 3 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890329004829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890329004829A), Mar 29, 1989: Cessna 421, Brownsville, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Starved right engine of fuel on self check out. Failed feather, put gear and flaps down. Below VMC stalled. Crashed

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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