# NTSB MIA95LA002: Cessna 421B, N701AM, Stuart, FL, October 3, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 3, 1994, 07:53 local (11:53 UTC)
- Place: Stuart, FL
- Coordinates: 26.850036, -80.090988 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8500&lon=-80.0910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37683/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA002

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SQUAT SWITCH BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CONTAMINATION OF THE GEAR SQUAT SWITCH WITH CORROSION AND WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Other gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,gear switch - contamination (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF TOWER CONTROLLERS TOLD THE PILOT THAT THEY SAW SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD FOR LANDING, AND LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND OBSERVED THE GEAR DOWN INDICATIONS. ON LANDING ROLL THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND PLACED ON JACKS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SWITCH WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER, CORRODED AND IMPROPERLY RIGGED.

## Factual narrative

On October 3, 1994, about 0753, eastern daylight time, N701AM, a Cessna C-421B, registered to and operated by Air Mobile Ministries, experienced an all-landing gears collapse on landing at Whitman Field, Stuart, Florida. The flight was a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The planned destination was Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and six passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that after takeoff the landing gear would not come up so he placed the gear handle in the down position and observed three green lights. On landing roll the gear collapsed. The one passenger who was on board was an FAA employee in a duty travel status, from the San Juan, Puerto Rico, Flight Standards District Office.

Examination of the landing gear safety switch [Squat] by FAA personnel revealed that the switch was corroded, full of water and was improperly rigged. FAA personnel also reported the airplane weight and balance data used by the pilot for takeoff computations was in error, and the airplane was about 200 pounds over gross weight on departure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N701AM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N701AM), registered now, S/N 421B0366, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 80366
- Airframe hours: 3329
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-H 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Mobile Ministries
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1994, 50 hours before
- Destination: MTPP, PORT-AU-PRINCE, OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SUA, Witham Field, runway 29, 5,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 430 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 14 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 19941003035399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941003035399A), Oct 3, 1994: Cessna 421B, Stuart, FL, Substantial damage. Unable raise gear. Returned. All 3 gears collapsed landing. Squat switch corroded out of rig. Over gross weight.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.