Cessna 421C N3875C accident near Connersville, Indiana

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while making a low-altitude turn during dark night conditions.

NTSB analysis

A witness reported that, despite the darkness, he was able to see the navigation lights on the airplane as it flew over the south end of the airport at an altitude of 150 to 200 feet above the ground. The airplane made a left turn to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and continued a descending turn until the airplane impacted the ground in a near-vertical attitude. Due to the airplane’s turn, the 10- to 20-knot quartering headwind became a quartering tailwind. The airplane was also turned toward a rural area with very little ground lighting. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engines did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11FA201 for the full record.