Probable cause
The failure of the hydraulic landing gear extension systems due to a ruptured line.
NTSB analysis
At the conclusion of the business flight, the pilot placed the landing gear selector in the down position. The gear did not extend. Then, the pilot attempted to extend the gear using the emergency procedure, and he was similarly unsuccessful. The pilot landed with the gear partially extended. The airplane swerved off the runway and was substantially damaged. An examination of the landing gear system revealed that an aluminum hydraulic line had ruptured at a 45-degree bend near the location of an Adel clamp. The subsequent loss of fluid rendered the primary and emergency gear extension systems inoperative.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09LA029 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 30, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Falcon Field (FFZ)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 421C
- N-number
- N421PC
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Business
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.