Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

At 1615, the pilot called FSS for a weather briefing and to file an IFR flight plan. He was told that there was thunderstorm activity, which was building in intensity, extending from Raton, New Mexico, to Garden City, Kansas, with some scattered activity in the Oklahoma panhandle. The briefer further reported that the thunderstorm activity was moving east, southeast. The pilot checked in with Albuquerque Center at 1750 during his departure climb to 21,000 feet. At 1755, convective SIGMET 70C was issued for isolated severe thunderstorms located 10 miles north, northeast, of Las Vegas, New Mexico. FAA Order 7110.65J, Air Traffic Control, section 2-6-2, states that 'controllers shall advise pilots of hazardous weather that may impact operations within 150 NM of their sector or area of jurisdiction.' SIGMET 70C was not given to the pilot by the center controller. Radio contact was lost at 1823. The pilot reported that the airplane was in VMC, approaching precipitation, when they encountered hail and the pilot's windshield was broken out which resulted in the airplane's depressurization.

On March 3,1996, at a time not reported, a Cessna 421B, N69905, registered to Hi Tech Aviation in Scottsdale, Arizona, reportedly crashed into the sea while attempting to land at the airport at Vigan in the Philippine Islands. The weather at the time and the circumstances of the accident were not reported. It was reported that the pilot was the only occupant onboard. According to the Philippine Air Transportation Office, the aircraft arrived in Manila on March 2, 1996. It departed the next day for a flight to Vigan to pick up a passenger with a return to Manila. It was last seen flying over the airport in the traffic pattern for landing. It is presumed to have crashed into the sea. The FAA aircraft records section in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, indicated that they received a bill of sale from Hi Tech Aviation indicating the aircraft was sold to a company in Manila on 01/19/96.

The pilot obtained a preflight briefing and indicated that he would obtain an IFR clearance after becoming airborne; however, he took off and did not activate a flight plan. Witnesses observed the airplane flying north (away from the destination) about 200 to 300 feet above the ground below a low overcast sky condition. One witness said the airplane was flying very slow; he said he was almost able to keep up with it in his vehicle. The witnesses said they saw the airplane roll rapidly to the right and descend toward the ground. It collided with the ground in an approximate 50 degree pitch down attitude. An on-scene examination did not reveal any airframe or control anomaly that would have resulted in the accident. The engines and propellers were disassembled for inspection. Examination of the engines revealed they were capable of producing power. Examination of the propellers revealed both were operating at low pitch settings. About 25 miles north-northwest at Battle Creek, MI, the 1145 edt weather was, in part: 500 feet overcast, visibility 2 miles with fog, wind from 050 degrees at 10 knots.

The pilot reported ice accretion en route to his destination and subsequently requested, and received a lower altitude from ATC. The flight was issued a clearance for a VOR-A approach to the Greensburg Airport, and was observed by a witness north of the airport to fly for a short period down runway 18 about seven feet above the runway. The witness then observed the airplane began to climb and fly off in a southerly direction. Other witnesses saw the airplane flying in the vicinity of the airport beneath an overcast ceiling estimated between 300 feet and 1,000 feet AGL. One witness, located about two miles south of the airport, saw the airplane turn sharply left, drop nose low, recover, drop nose low, and then descend from sight behind trees. Investigators and rescue personnel discovered a large amount of ice debris along the flight path and outside the fire ring at the crash site.

En route from Olbia to Torino-Caselle Airport, the pilot was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions and decided to divert to Genoa-Sestri-Cristoforo Colombo Airport. On approach, he was unable to establish on the localizer despite several attempts and finally initiated a go-around procedure. While circling in limited visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain. All five occupants were killed.

The airline transport pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 36, he heard a loud noise from the left engine area, and observed smoke trailing the left engine nacelle. He confirmed that the left engine was losing power, and he feathered the left propeller. He was unable to maintain altitude, and the aircraft was force landed on wooded terrain. The aircraft caught fire on the ground after colliding with trees and was destroyed. An inspection of the left engine turbocharger revealed that the rotor shaft was seized, with evidence of metal transfer to the bearing journals.

Two foreign pilots took off VFR to remain in the vicinity of an airport on the outskirts of a metropolitan area. No record was found to show the airplane had been fueled either before or after the preceding flight. The flight crew contacted an area approach control and requested an ILS approach to test their ILS equipment without specifying an airport. Approach control issued and the flight crew accepted vectors to another airport for which the pilots had no approach plate or airport information. Vectors took the airplane about 25 miles from the departure airport. The flight crew requested to proceed back to the departure airport. A short time later, the flight crew declared an emergency due to low fuel, then radar contact was lost. Witnesses at a landfill heard an intermittent sound from the engine(s). The airplane came into their view with one engine running, then the engine sound ceased. They indicated the airplane went out of control and crashed, but one engine accelerated just before impact. A small fire was confined to the left wing. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot said he was on the takeoff ground roll at about 100 knots when he discovered that the control lock was still in place. The pilot said he attempted to remove the control lock but could not prior to the aircraft over running the departure end of the 3,400 foot long runway. The aircraft collided with a county sewage treatment building, separating the wings from the fuselage. The aircraft fuselage continued through the building and came to rest on rocks near the beach. All four occupants were seriously injured.

The 3 occupants aboard were: the owner in the left front seat, his wife in the right front seat, and a man hired by the owner to fly the airplane (seat location could not be determined). Prior to takeoff a man telephoned FSS for a weather briefing and to file an IFR flight plan. He told FSS the pilot's name was J. Hamlett; a J. Hamlett was not aboard (it was found later that Hamlett was the maiden name of the wife of the man hired to fly the airplane). Two minutes after takeoff the pilot was told to contact departure; the pilot acknowledged. This was the last recorded radio contact. The airplane collided with a hill obscured by ground fog about 3 miles east of the airport. The man hired to fly the airplane did not possess an airman certificate; his certificate was revoked 2 years prior to the accident. The owner had obtained his private certificate for airplane single-engine land about 1 month prior to the accident, and had not received any multi-engine instruction. All three occupants were killed.