# NTSB LAX80FA064: Cessna 421B, N59RZ, Tucson, AZ, March 14, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 14, 1980
- Place: Tucson, AZ · TUCSON, AZ
- Location: 32.2217° N, 110.9265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tucson, AZ, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2217&lon=-110.9265&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA064
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA064

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0396  80/3/14  NR.TUCSON,AZ          CESSNA 421B         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1645                    N59RZ               PX-  1  0  0  TEST                      33, 9590 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RYAN FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         TUCSON,AZ                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLUTTER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- BAL WTS,PN 5034011-1 & -3,MISG FM ELEVS.ELEV PUSH-PULL TUBE RIVETS FAILED,OVRLD.ELEV/STAB TWISTED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59RZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59RZ-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 421B-0249, built 1972 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ryan Field

## 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 19800314005829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800314005829A), Mar 14, 1980: Cessna 421B, Tucson, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates elevator balance weights not installed after repairs of same. Crashed out of control in pattern.

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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