On May 9, 1980, a Cessna 411 (registration N4973T) operated by Private United States of America was involved in an aviation accident near Vineland, United States of America in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported: - The pilot failed to maintain flying speed, - Complete failure on one engine, - Emergency circumstances unknown/not reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During cruise, an engine failed, leading to loss of control, stall, and spin. The aircraft crashed in a field near Vineland and exploded, killing all four occupants.
Accident Overview
During cruise flight, one of the aircraft's engines failed. The pilot subsequently lost control of the airplane, which entered a stall and then a spin. The aircraft descended and crashed into a field located near Vineland, where it exploded upon impact. All four occupants were killed in the accident.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to maintain flying speed, a complete failure of one engine, and emergency circumstances that were unknown or not reported.