Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

During takeoff climb, the twin-engine airplane encountered a strong downdraft and impacted trees and terrain. The pilot reported that while taxiing to the runway, he scanned the sky with the monochrome weather radar, which was set at the 40-mile range. 'No weather was shown behind the runway and a cell was shown 15 miles from the runway.' The takeoff roll was 'uneventful,' and the airplane was rotated at 95 knots. Climb out was accomplished at 110 knots, the engines were at maximum power, the propellers at maximum RPM, and the manifold pressure was indicating maximum. A 10-degree turn towards the Cotulla VOR was being made when at 1,500 feet msl, a sharp descent was felt with the VSI indicating an 800 ft/min rate of descent. The wings were leveled and the airspeed was slowed to 85 knots. 'The rate of descent slowed to 400 ft/min and then finally to 300 ft/min until impact...' The airplane was destroyed by fire that erupted on impact. A review of doppler weather radar images showed thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport.

During the takeoff roll at Lanseria Airport, the crew encountered technical problems and elected to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.

The twin engine aircraft departed Bad Vöslau Airport at 0900LT on a private flight to Nice. While approaching Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport in poor weather conditions, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed one nautical mile off Monaco. Four passengers were killed while four other occupants were rescued, among them the pilot, his wife and daughter. The aircraft sank and its wreckage was found four days later at a depth of 165 metres. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with heavy rain falls and hail.

Shortly after takeoff from Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel Airport, while climbing, the pilot reported engine problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. While completing a turn, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in Niendorf, near the airport. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

While descending to Bursa Airport by night, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed upon impact. All three occupants were killed.

The pilot/owner and a flight instructor had flown in to pick-up passengers. The owner was not multiengine rated and was receiving instruction from the instructor. The airplane was fueled and two adults and three children were boarded about 1 hour later. The owner was the flying pilot in the left seat. The owner stated that the 4,500 foot long runway was covered with 2 1/2 to 3 inches of snow and slush. He further stated that during the takeoff roll, 'The snow was so bad we could not get off the ground...' The pilot estimated that he aborted the takeoff at 100 mph, the braking action was zero, and the airplane went off the end of the runway. According to a witness, the five passengers arrived with 'lots of heavy bags.' After the accident, the baggage was removed before it could be weighed. An estimated airplane takeoff weight of 7,856 pounds was computed without baggage, based upon weights from the airplane weight and balance form, the police report, and FAA records. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the maximum takeoff weight was published at 7,560 pounds.

The twin engine aircraft departed Geneva-Cointrin Airport at 0842LT on a charter flight to Bordeaux-Mérignac, carrying one pilot and seven passengers. At 0903LT, while cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and was cleared to reduce his altitude and to divert to Limoges Airport. The pilot elected to restart the engine below FL100 but was unable to do so. Due to high drag, the aircraft continued to lose height and was unable to reach Limoges Airport. At 1029LT, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found near Donzeil, between Guéret and Aubusson, about 60 km northeast of Limoges. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight occupants were killed.
Pilot:
Jean-Claude Kaufmann.
Passengers:
Jacques Faini,
Serge Frochot,
Didier Hostettler,
Étienne Moinat,
Jean-Claude Paccaud,
Michel Rothen,
Jean-François Troger.

At 1350 cst, a McAlester FSS specialist gave a preflight briefing to a Cessna 421 pilot concerning IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) along the route & advised that VFR flight was not recommended. Cloud tops were at 12,000', & freezing level was at 1,600'. A PIREP at 1416 cst reported light mixed icing from 6,400' to 9,000' at Oklahoma City. At 1424 cst, the pilot departed Tulsa (VFR), then radar service was terminated. No further communication was received from the airplane. Radar data showed that it climbed westerly, reaching 9,800' at 1440 cst; during the next 88 seconds, its heading & altitude deviated until it descended through 3,200'. Ground witnesses saw the airplane descend out of low clouds in a 'flat spin' & crash. No preimpact mechanical failure was found. The airplane's gross weight was about 150 lbs over its maximum limit. In November 1995, the pilot received 10 hrs of Cessna 421 simulator training; his instructor noted in training records that he met minimum standards for VFR, but 'under IMC conditions,' he 'could not maintain altitude within 1,300 feet or heading within 40 degrees.' Postmortem toxicology tests showed 0.079 mcg/ml Nordiazepam (metabolite of Valium) in kidney fluid, 0.044 mcg/ml Desipramine (metabolite of Imipramine, an antidepressant) in spleen fluid, 0.733 mcg/ml Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in spleen fluid, & 0.353 mcg/ml Diphenhydramine in lung fluid. These medications are not approved by the FAA for use while flying. The airplane was equipped for flight in icing & IFR
conditions.