Fuel exhaustion Accident Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II N421DP,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 246603
 
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Date:Sunday 10 January 2021
Time:13:01
Type:Silhouette image of generic C421 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II
Owner/operator:850 Atlantic Collision Inc
Registration: N421DP
MSN: 421B0353
Year of manufacture:1972
Total airframe hrs:5331 hours
Engine model:Continental GTSI0-520-H1B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Old Bethpage, NY -   United States of America
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Farmingdale-Republic Airport, NY (FRG/KFRG)
Destination airport:Bridgeport-Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport, CT (BDR/KBDR)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
On January 10, 2021, about 1302 eastern standard time, a Cessna 412B, N421DP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Old Bethpage, New York. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that, during the initial climbout, about 1,000 ft above ground level, one of the engines stopped producing power. He confirmed that all engine controls were full forward and the main fuel tanks were selected. Immediately thereafter, the remaining engine began to surge, then stopped producing power. He established best glide speed and looked for an area to perform a forced landing. The airplane crashed into a solid waste disposal facility, about 2.3 nautical miles northwest of the departure airport.

First responders arrived immediately after the accident and found only a trace amount of fuel within the confines of the accident site or in the fuel tanks. The only postaccident fire was centered on a small, localized area near the right engine turbocharger. Both main fuel tanks were empty, and the auxiliary bladder tanks were ruptured by impact forces. Examination of both engines revealed no evidence of a preaccident malfunction or anomaly. A surveillance video showed no evidence of smoke or mist training the airplane seconds prior to impact. The pilot reported that he departed the airport with 112 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot did not provide evidence of the latest refueling when requested by investigators. The available evidence is consistent with a total loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion.

Probable Cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a forced landing.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: ERA21LA098
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 7 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB ERA21LA098
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N421DP

Location

Images:


Photo: NTSB

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
10-Jan-2021 19:34 Captain Adam Added
10-Jan-2021 19:36 Captain Adam Updated [Date, Embed code]
10-Jan-2021 20:54 Captain Adam Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Phase, Nature, Destination airport, Source]
10-Jan-2021 21:35 RobertMB Updated [Time, Total occupants, Source, Narrative]
10-Jan-2021 21:38 RobertMB Updated [Location, Narrative]
10-Jan-2021 22:01 Captain Adam Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
10-Jan-2021 23:13 Geno Updated [Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source]
12-Jan-2021 13:24 Aerossurance Updated [Source, Narrative]
12-Jan-2021 17:57 Airwork737 Updated [Embed code]
10-Jul-2021 09:13 aaronwk Updated [Time, Location, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category]
13-Aug-2022 14:48 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Accident report]
14-Aug-2022 23:42 Captain Adam Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo]

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