Accident Overview
On 16 November 2019, at approximately 15:15 local time, a Cessna 421B with registration N54TT was involved in an accident at Aeropuerto Internacional Dr. Joaquín Balaguer (MDJB), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The aircraft had three occupants on board: one pilot and two passengers. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Sequence of Events
The accident occurred after the aircraft took off from runway 19. Following gear retraction, a progressive loss of power was observed in the number one (left) engine. The pilot attempted to maintain a speed that would allow the takeoff to continue but was unable to do so. Consequently, the pilot aborted the takeoff and performed an emergency landing with the landing gear retracted. After touching down, the aircraft slid approximately 100 feet along the runway and continued about 300 feet into the runway safety area before coming to a stop.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a 1975 Cessna 421B, serial number 421B0854, powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-H engines, each rated at 375 horsepower. The propellers were Hartzell variable-pitch units. The landing gear was a retractable tricycle type. The pilot held an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, with ratings for single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument operations. He had a total of 4,535.5 flight hours, with 249.0 hours on type. His medical certificate was current and valid.
Damage
The aircraft sustained structural damage during the forced landing. The lower surface of the left wing was torn after impacting two runway lights. The lower surface of the right wing was also torn as the aircraft slid across the runway threshold. Both propellers struck the runway and safety area surfaces. No fire occurred, and all components remained attached to the airframe.
Investigation
The Comisión Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviación (CIAA) initiated an investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. The investigation team evaluated operational, human performance, airworthiness, meteorological, and terrain aspects. Activities included photography, GPS marking of the final resting position, visual inspection of damage, fuel and oil quantity checks, continuity tests of the number one engine power controls, fuel system verification, and fuel supply checks for engine one. No flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder were required or installed.