# NTSB SEA93FA035: Cessna 421C, N98489, Wilsonville, OR, December 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1992, 16:05 local (Dec 13, 1992, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Wilsonville, OR
- Coordinates: 45.299797, -122.77993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2998&lon=-122.7799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42931
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42931/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93FA035

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE FLYING IN A NORMAL CRUISE ATTITUDE WHEN IT ROLLED INVERTED AND THE NOSE DROPPED NEAR VERTICAL TO THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DIVE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO COME UP HORIZONTAL TO THE TERRAIN WHEN IT STRUCK A 75-FT TREE. DURING THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION, NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98489](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98489-1995-02-06), registration cancelled 1995-02-06, S/N 421C0067 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421C0067
- Airframe hours: 2474
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520L 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Higgins, Arthur B.
- Registered owner: Fredericks, Richard R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 1991, 62 hours before
- Departed: PDX, PORTLAND, OR
- Destination: 3S2, AURORA, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,138 total, 727 in this make and model, 4,037 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Observed at: PDX, 18 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 19921212049839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921212049839A), Dec 12, 1992: Cessna 421C, Wilsonville, OR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Rolled inverted dived. Began pullup. Struck tree and crashed. No anomalies. Possible intentional roll.

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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