# NTSB NYC73AN084: Cessna 421, N121X, Cheektowaga, NY, December 16, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 16, 1972
- Place: Cheektowaga, NY · CHEEKTOWAGA, NY
- Location: 42.9090° N, 78.7508° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cheektowaga, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9090&lon=-78.7508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 7, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168656
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73AN084
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN084

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1559  72/12/16   CHEEKTOWAGA,NY      CESSNA 421          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1033                    N121X               PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  AGE 31, 2600 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            80 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREATER BUFFALO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BUFFALO,NY                  ALLENTOWN,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: RESIDENCE(S)                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: SELECTOR VALVES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - EXHAUST SYSTEM: OTHER
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SPARK PLUG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON DEPOSITS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              22
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PWR LOSS L ENG.SPARK PLUG FOULED,PSBL SLOW WASTEGATE OPN.FUEL SHUT OFF,PROP NOT FTHRD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N121X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121X-2016-09-14), registration cancelled 2016-09-14, S/N 421-0166, 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Greater Buffalo

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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