Cessna 421C
Aircraft Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 421C
About the Cessna 421C
More than 400 Cessna 421C airframes remain on the U.S. civil registry. That places the 421C as the 43rd-largest active fleet in Cessna's lineup. The 421C accounts for about 0.7% of Cessna's total active registered fleet. About 40% of all 421C registry records ever held have since been deregistered.
The 421C carries 33 recorded general-aviation accidents across its FAA-registration exposure, which works out to about 3.3 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years over that same exposure. 16 of those 33 recorded 421C accidents were fatal. Measured against a cohort of the same type, engine class, and seat range, the 421C sits at about three-quarters on the safety percentile, meaning a higher accident rate than roughly three-quarters of comparable types.
One FAA airworthiness directive is active against the 421C. One airworthiness directive has ever been issued against the model. The most recent AD applicable to the 421C is dated November 9, 2005.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Cessna |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2076016 |
| Model | 421C |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing multi engine |
| Cruise Speed | 90 MPH / 78 knots |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 2 engines |
| Number of Seats | 8 seats |
Photo: FlugKerl2 —
cc-by-sa-3.0
via Wikimedia Commons
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Asking Prices
What sellers are asking for the Cessna 421C, across current listings, grouped by model year.
As of October 16, 2026. How we calculate this.
| Years | Currency | Typical asking range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1979 | USD | ≈ $360k – $470k | ≈ $390k |
| 1980–1984 | USD | ≈ $390k – $420k | ≈ $400k |
These are asking prices, not sale prices. What any one aircraft asks or sells for can swing widely with airframe and engine condition, damage history, avionics, paint and interior, logbooks and service records, and plenty else a listing never shows.
Safety Analysis
Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
32 exact, 0 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
16 fatal accidents.
48.5% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
9,981
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
Within its peer cohort
Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).
This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →
Accidents by year
Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →
Phase of flight
Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.
Finding category
Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (33)· 135 (4)· NUSN (3)· UNK (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 33 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview, OR | N421GP | Substantial | Fatal | unknown | unknown | |
| Steamboat Springs, CO | N245T | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Carson City, NV | N421TP | Substantial | None | Prior to flight | Organizational issues, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| McGregor, TX | N146TJ | Substantial | None | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Leesburg, VA | N880JS | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Decatur, TX | N6797L | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft | |
| Monroe, LA | N619AC | Substantial | None | Initial climb | Personnel issues | |
| Houston, TX | XB-FQS | Substantial | Minor | Emergency descent | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Monterey, CA | N678SW | Destroyed | Fatal | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Longmont, CO | N66NC | Substantial | Minor | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| St. Marys, PA | N84HA | Substantial | Minor | Landing | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Canadian, TX | N421NS | Destroyed | Fatal | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Plant City, FL | N13RF | Substantial | Minor | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Not determined, Environmental issues | |
| Sandersville, GA | N427JM | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Catawba, WI | N2655B | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Huntsville, TX | N421TK | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Not determined, Personnel issues | |
| Jackson, CA | N71RC | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Death Valley, CA | N21SG | Substantial | None | Landing | Not determined | |
| Paris, IL | N229H | Destroyed | Fatal | Takeoff | Not determined, Personnel issues | |
| Floriston, CA | N421W | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Amarillo, TX | N805DC | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Lake Worth, FL | N297DB | Substantial | Fatal | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Not determined | |
| Wells, TX | N67SR | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Shaver Lake, CA | N700EM | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Kenedy, TX | N5534G | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues |
Page 1 of 2 (showing accidents 1–25 of 33).