Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III, N678SW: Fatal accident occurred July 13, 2021 near Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY), California


National Transportation Safety Board investigator Eric Gutierrez updates the media on July 14 about a plane crash in the Monterra residential development off of Highway 68 the day prior.
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This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Jose, California
Textron; Wichita, Kansas
Location: Monterey, CA
Accident Number: WPR21FA270
Date & Time: July 13, 2021, 10:42 Local
Registration: N678SW
Aircraft: Cessna 421C
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On July 13, 2021 about 1042 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 421C, N678SW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Monterey, California. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Review of recorded communication from the Monterey air traffic control tower revealed that the pilot canceled their initial instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance and requested a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) on top clearance. The controller subsequently issued a VFR-ON-TOP clearance via the Monterey Five departure procedure, which included instructions to turn left after takeoff to join the Salinas very high frequency omni directional range (VOR) 264° radial. The controller issued a clearance for takeoff and shortly after, instructed the pilot to contact the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).

Review of recorded communication from the Oakland ARTCC revealed that the pilot established radio communication with the Oakland ARTCC controller as the airplane ascended through 1,700 ft msl. The controller noticed the airplane was turning in the wrong direction and issued an immediate right turn to a heading of 030° which was acknowledged by the pilot. The controller then immediately issued two low altitude alerts with no response from the pilot. No further radio communication with the pilot was received.

Recorded Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the airplane departed from runway 10R at 1738:44 and ascended to 1,075 ft msl before a right turn was initiated. The data showed that at 1740:14, the airplane continued to ascend in a right turn and reached an altitude of 2,000 ft msl before a descent began. The data showed that the airplane continued descending right turn until ADS-B contact was lost at 1740:38, at an altitude of 775 ft, about 520 ft southwest of the accident site as seen in figure 1. 


A witness located near the accident site reported that he observed the accident airplane descend below the cloud layer in a nose low attitude with the landing gear retracted. The witness stated that the airplane made a right descending turn and impacted the top of a pine tree before it traveled below the tree line, followed by the sound of an explosion.

The preliminary weather for the MRY airport reported that at 1054 PDT, winds from 280° at 7 knots, visibility of 9 statute miles, ceiling overcast at 800 feet agl, temperature of 15°C and dew point temperature of 11°C, altimeter setting of 29.99 inches of mercury, remarks included: station with a precipitation discriminator.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted trees about 1 mile south of the departure end of runway 10R. The first identifiable point of contact (FIPC) was a 50 to 75 ft tall tree that had damaged limbs near the top of the tree. The debris path was oriented on a heading of about 067° and was about 995 ft in length from the FIPC, as seen in figure 2. The main wreckage was located about 405 ft from the FIPC. Various portions of aluminum wing skin, right wing, flap, aileron, engine, propeller blades, and propeller hub were observed throughout the debris path. Additionally, several trees were damaged throughout the debris path. The fuselage came to rest upright against a residential structure on a heading of about 045° magnetic at an elevation of 447 ft msl. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. 


Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 
Registration: N678SW
Model/Series: 421C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: IMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMRY,165 ft msl 
Observation Time: 10:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C /11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 280°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 800 ft AGL
Visibility: 9 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.99 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Monterey, CA 
Destination: Sacramento, CA (KMHR)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: On-ground
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 36.575343,-121.82523 (est)

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Mary Ellen Carlin of Pacific Grove.


Alice Diane Emig was a passenger on the plane along with her Dachshund, Toby.

Cessna 172P Skyhawk, N98354: Incident occurred July 13, 2021 at Merrill Field Airport (PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

Aircraft struck a runway light during touch and goes. 

Flight Safety Alaska Inc


Date: 13-JUL-21
Time: 23:00:00Z
Regis#: N98354
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: ANCHORAGE
State: ALASKA

Air Tractor AT-401, N7315P: Accident occurred July 13, 2021 in Carroll, Iowa

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Iowa

Location: Carroll, IA
Accident Number: CEN21LA319
Date & Time: July 13, 2021, 16:54 Local
Registration: N7315P
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401 
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

On July 13, 2021, at 1654 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc., N7315P, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Carroll, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight.

The pilot stated that he completed half of the planned aerial application of a field when the engine quit coming out of a turn. The pilot then performed a forced landing. The airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to its wings.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR INC 
Registration: N7315P
Model/Series: AT-401
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: 
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 42.0656,94.8673 (est)
 


A crop dusting plane suffered what appeared to be an engine failure and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a field off Mahogany Avenue near Swan Lake south of Carroll at around 5 p.m. Tuesday night. 

Local authorities responded to the scene and report the pilot suffered no serious injuries, however the crop duster, an Air Tractor AT-401 registered to Central Ag, LLC of Corsica, South Dakota, was likely a total loss. The Federal Aviation Administration, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) have all been notified and will be conducting a joint investigation into the incident.

Piper PA-28-181, N581K: Incident occurred July 13, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Minneapolis, Minnesota

Aircraft veered off runway after landing striking a runway edge light.  


Date: 13-JUL-21
Time: 19:22:00Z
Regis#: N581K
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA28
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: MINNEAPOLIS
State: MINNESOTA

Cessna 182N Skylane, N8949G: Incident occurred July 13, 2021 at Bellingham International Airport (KBLI), Whatcom County, Washington

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington

Aircraft on takeoff struck a bird leaving a dent in cowling.  

Chuckanut Flying Club Inc


Date: 14-JUL-21
Time: 00:03:00Z
Regis#: N8949G
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 182
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: BELLINGHAM
State: WASHINGTON