On December 11, 1987, a Cessna 421A (registration N777RC) was involved in an aviation accident near Hilton Head Isl, SC. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft departed a coastal airport at night in patchy fog with 400 ft partial obscuration. Ground witnesses heard a right circling flight path. Engine teardowns showed both engines at high power with no pre-impact malfunction. No radar contact or post-takeoff communication. Pilot had low instrument hours.
Accident Details
The aircraft departed from a coastal airport during nighttime. The weather conditions at the time included a 400-foot partial obscuration and patchy fog. Ground witnesses who heard the aircraft reported that it followed a right-hand circling flight path after takeoff.
Investigation Findings
Teardowns of the engines, propellers, and turbochargers were conducted as part of the investigation. The examinations demonstrated that both engines were operating at high power. No evidence of a pre-impact malfunction was found in any of the components examined.
The aircraft was not tracked on radar after departure. The flight crew did not attempt any communication following takeoff. The pilot in command had been cleared to maintain runway heading after takeoff and to climb to 2,000 feet.
Pilot Information
A review of the pilot's records showed an atypically low total of instrument flight hours.