Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III crash, Nov 7, 1996 (8 killed)
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III accident on November 7, 1996 near Donzeil, Creuse, France with 8 fatalities. Cause: The pilot mismanaged the flight after...
- Date: November 7, 1996
- Aircraft: Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
- Location: Donzeil, Creuse, France
- Fatalities: 8
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot mismanaged the flight after the propeller jammed in an intermediate position following a right crankshaft rupture. His limited type experience and false beliefs about the aircraft's performance were factors, and a lack of crack-detection inspection guidance for the engine crankshafts contributed.
A Jetcom Cessna 421C on a charter from Geneva to Bordeaux lost its right engine after a crankshaft failure at 20,000 feet. The pilot could not restart it, the propeller jammed in a fixed position, and the aircraft could not reach Limoges. It crashed in a field near Donzeil and burned, killing all eight aboard.