# NTSB MIA82FA045: Cessna 421, N24CC, Miami, FL, February 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 11, 1982, 05:46 local (10:46 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.710664, -80.57962 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7107&lon=-80.5796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 11, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA82FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82FA045

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE TAMIAMI AIRPORT, MIAMI, FLORIDA AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 EST ON FEBRUARY 9, 1982. THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED AND THE PURPOSE, DESTINATION, AND LOCATIONS OF POSSIBLE ENROUTE STOPS WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE NEXT REPORTED COMMUNICATION WITH THE FLIGHT WAS AT 0533 ON FEBRUARY 11, 1982 WHEN THE FOLLOWING TRANSMISSION WAS RECORDED ON THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S CONTROL TOWER FREQUENCY: "MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY TWIN CESSNA 421CC GOING IN WEST OF MIAMI, GOING IN WEST OF MIAMI." THE AIRCRAFT INITIALLY IMPACTED THE TERRAIN WHILE ON AN EASTERLY HEADING IN A NEAR LEVEL ATTITUDE. IT BOUNCED AND IMPACTED THE SECOND TIME IN A 40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND FLIPPED INVERTED. THE WING FUEL TANKS RUPTURED IN THE CRASH BUT THE MAIN TANKS WERE INTACT AND FOUND VOID OF FUEL. BOTH PROPELLERS SEPARATED DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE AND THE BLADE DISTORTIONS WERE NOT INDICATIVE OF POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N24CC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421-0043
- Airframe hours: 3096
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-D 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Bruce L. Mcwhorter

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,850 total, 560 in this make and model, 2,440 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 154 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 11 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 19820211003169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820211003169A), Feb 11, 1982: Cessna 421, Miami, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed in swamp about 10 miles wsw of Miami intl airport. Investigation revealed main tanks empty.

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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