Probable cause
A runway overrun for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
NTSB analysis
The airline transport pilot was landing the airplane at the end of a cross-country flight. He stated that the airplane touched down within the first 500 ft of the 3,065-ft-long runway and that, when he applied the brakes, the right brake felt "very soft" and was "totally ineffective." The airplane departed the end of the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.
The airplane was not examined following the accident and was subsequently ferried to another airport for repair. No information was made available regarding the right brake, and the reason for the brake malfunction during landing could not be determined.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR16LA092 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 13, 2016
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Death Valley, California
- Nearest airport
- Furnace Creek Airport (L06)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 421C
- N-number
- N21SG
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1976
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.