Crash of a Cessna 402C in the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1983 at 1246 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N26506
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Treasure Cay
MSN:
402C-0340
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2999
Captain / Total hours on type:
190.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2051
Circumstances:
The aircraft was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean following engine failure. The pilot estimated fuel on board during pre-flight from the electronic fuel gauges. The aircraft flew two hours and 16 minutes before the engines quit in a mode of fuel exhaustion with surging prior to stopping. Post accident investigation using fuel slips revealed a fuel burn within 10 to 15 gallons of fuel exhaustion. The fuel gauges failed on the last leg of the flight and the passengers stated the pilot paid a lot of attention to these gauges. The pilot wanted to divert to Freeport but did not because the weather was below minimums. After ditching the aircraft sank in 800 feet of water. All three occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power(total) - non mechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid,fuel - exhaustion
2. (c) fuel supply - misjudged - pilot in command
3. (f) engine instruments,fuel quantity gauge - erratic
4. (c) refueling - not possible - pilot in command
5. (c) fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate - pilot in command
6. (c) procedures/directives - improper - pilot in command
7. (c) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 near Nagoorin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1983 at 0405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-DIL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brisbane – Gladstone – Rockhampton
MSN:
402-0142
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in operating a night freight flight from Brisbane to Gladstone and Rockhampton. The pilot departed Rockhampton as a passenger in another company aircraft at about 2100 hours the night before the accident and was flown to Caloundra. He then flew VH-DIL to Brisbane and after arriving submitted a flight plan for the return flight to Rockhampton giving an estimated time of DEPARTURE Brisbane of 0230 hours. Before DEPARTURE, however, the pilot was required to await the arrival of another aircraft so that freight could be transhipped to his aircraft. DEPARTURE from Brisbane was made at 0301 hours and at 0400 hours the pilot reported the aircraft's position over Gayndah, the pilot was instructed to call on another radio frequency at 0410 hours. No further transmissions were heard from the aircraft. The wreckage was located two days later in mountainous terrain. The aircraft had impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude. Subsequent investigation did not reveal any fault with the aircraft or its systems that could have contributed to the accident. The day before the accident the pilot rose at about 0730 hours after spending the previous night and day at a friends property near Rockhampton. He spent the day at leisure at the property before returning to Rockhampton in the afternoon. After dining at his parents home he proceeded to the airport for the flight to Caloundra. Before departing Brisbane to return to Rockhampton the only sleep the pilot would have had was about an hour on the flight to Caloundra and possibly another short period at Brisbane Airport while waiting for his aircraft to be loaded.
Probable cause:
The cause of the in-flight loss of control of the aircraft could not be determined. The pilot had had inadequate rest prior to undertaking the flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Meadville

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1982 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N402DL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Allentown - Meadville
MSN:
402B-0598
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5500
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2592
Circumstances:
The pilot approached high and fast for landing on runway 04. The wind was from 240° at 10 to 12 knots. The aircraft floated and after touchdown, the pilot was unable to stop on the wet, downsloping runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft continued down a steeper slope and into an area of brush and trees. All three gear collapsed, there was leading edge spar damage on both wings, and the right side fuselage skin, forward of the right wing, was damaged.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: overrun
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - tailwind
2. (f) wrong runway - selected - pilot in command
3. (c) distance - misjudged - pilot in command
4. (c) airspeed - misjudged - pilot in command
5. (c) go-around - not performed - pilot in command
6. (f) airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill
7. (f) airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet
8. (f) aircraft performance,hydroplaning condition - water
----------
Occurrence #2: complete gear collapsed
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
9. (f) terrain condition - downhill
10. (f) terrain condition - high vegetation
11. Landing gear - overload
----------
Occurrence #3: on ground/water collision with object
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
12. (f) object - tree(s)
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Chuspipata: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-015
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
402B-1041
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Chuspipata, about 45 km northeast of La Paz Airport. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Córdoba: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1982 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-JNU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Córdoba - Córdoba
MSN:
402-0112
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night calibration/inspection of the Instrument Landing System at Córdoba-Ambrosio Taravella Airport on behalf of the Directorate General of Aeronautics of the Province of Córdoba. On final approach to runway 18, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances about 300 meters short of runway. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Laredo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1982 at 0953 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4244Z
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dilley - Laredo
MSN:
402B-1026
YOM:
1975
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
5666
Captain / Total hours on type:
42.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1524
Circumstances:
The aircraft was observed to be extremely slow throughout the approach and that the pilot appeared to be having some difficulty with overcontrolling the aircraft. It then leveled out at 50-80 feet on final over the threshold, entered a nose-high attitude and then stalled into a right spin. The pilot had flown to Memphis, two days prior to the accident with the other pilot to pick up the stol equipped aircraft. The vendor's chief pilot checked out the pilot in the aircraft during the return flight to Houston. On the day prior to the accident the two pilots who were onboard at the time of the accident flew a local flight for about two hours and then flow to Dilley for an additional 1.3 hours. When the accident occurred the pilot who had been checked out by the vendor's chief pilot was sitting in the right seat.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight during final approach VFR pattern after the pilot failed to maintain airspeed. The following findings were reported:
- Inadequate transition/upgrade training on part of the copilot,
- Lack of total experience in type of aircraft on part of the copilot,
- Inadvertent stall spin,
- Inadequate supervision on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Lack of total experience in type of aircraft on part of the pilot-in-command.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1982 at 1924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4553Q
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Springdale - Kansas City
MSN:
402-0053
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5993
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3746
Circumstances:
The pilot received two weather briefings. Most of the first briefing was spend finding an alternate. The forecast include IMC with low ceilings, low visibilities with light snow, fog and possible freezing drizzle. The aircraft was not certificated for flight in known icing conditions. During arrival, the plane entered an overcast at 3,500 feet MSL. Two minutes later, the pilot reported and encounter with freezing precipitation. The first approach was abandoned in the vicinity of the FAF/outer marker after the pilot flew through the localizer course line and was half mile to the right. He was vectored for another ILS approach. While inbound on the approach, he was informed that approach control had received a low altitude alert. He was reminded that his altitude should be 2,600 feet until reaching the FAF; however, he reached only 2,400 feet. His airspeed was much higher than normal while descending from the FAF. The plane struck a building and burned about 1/3 mile northeast of the end of runway 18. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
In flight encounter with weather during approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR), loss of control and subsequent collision with object. The following findings were reported:
- Dark night,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Rain,
- Icing conditions,
- Wing ice,
- The pilot initiated operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Overconfidence in aircraft's ability on part of the pilot,
- The pilot continued flight into known adverse weather,
- Overconfidence in personal ability on part of the pilot,
- Non residential building.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Pullman: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1981 at 1003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2749N
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Spokane - Lewiston
MSN:
402-0253
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Lewiston Airport, Idaho, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and decided to divert to Pullman-Moscow Airport. This alternate airport was closed to traffic due to poor weather conditions as well. On approach in snow falls, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane hit a ridge located half a mile north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- ATC personnel failed to advise of unsafe airport conditions,
- Runway closed,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Airport notamed closed, plowing,
- Controller did not have notam,
- Plows on runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402C off Pacific Grove

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1981 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2611C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
402C-0071
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6140
Captain / Total hours on type:
620.00
Circumstances:
En route from Oakland to Honolulu, both engines failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditch the aircraft off Pacific Grove. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
engine failure in normal cruise due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fuel starvation,
- Complete failure both engines,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Ferry fuel system installed,
- High fuel consumption.
Final Report: