Crash of a Cessna 402A near Mount Hagen: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
P2-GKJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Goroka – Mount Hagen
MSN:
402A-0081
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mount Hagen
Western Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While approaching Mount Hagen Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Bloomsburg

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1981 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N7888Q
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bloomsburg - Gardner
MSN:
402B-0216
YOM:
1972
Location:
Bloomsburg
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8064
Captain / Total hours on type:
1604.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from a contaminated runway at Bloomsburg Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled, veered off runway and crashed. Both occupants were injured, the passenger seriously, and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Collision with dirt bank,
- Snow,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Airport conditions: snow on runway,
- Visibility one mile or less,
- Blowing snow,
- The pilot removed snow before takeoff,
- After takeoff, shuddered, 100 knots in ground effect,
- Ice beads frozen on wet wings of other aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Laredo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1981 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Fiesta Photo
Registration:
N69321
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Laredo
MSN:
402B-0436
YOM:
1973
Location:
Laredo
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
57.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Laredo Airport runway 32 by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed three miles southeast of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility one mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
C-GDTW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Goose Bay - Keflavik
MSN:
402A-0037
YOM:
1979
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from Goose Bay to Keflavik, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the North Atlantic Ocean. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Salley

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1980 at 0255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Harry A. Zellers
Registration:
N8159Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Charleston - Charleston
MSN:
402B-0375
YOM:
1973
Location:
Salley
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1540
Captain / Total hours on type:
101.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a regional flight out from Charleston, both engines failed. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed onto a house in Salley. Both occupants were seriously injured while there were no casualties on the ground. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during normale cruise due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Instruments: fuel quantity gauge erratic,
- Faire of both engines,
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility 1/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Golovin: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N90238
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nome - Unalakleet
MSN:
402B-0817
YOM:
1975
Location:
Golovin
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
6145
Captain / Total hours on type:
107.00
Circumstances:
En route from Nome to Unalakleet, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. He decided to continue under VFR mode when the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was found a day later in a remote area. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground after the pilot continued VFR flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- IFR weather conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Deer Lake: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Tomahawk Airways
Registration:
C-FEIA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Deer Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Three passengers were seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Crescent City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1980 at 2008 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N5718C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Crescent City - Eureka
MSN:
402-0027
YOM:
1979
Location:
Crescent City-Del Norte County Regional (Jack McNamara)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9019
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor and one student pilot) was engaged in a training flight from Crescent City to Eureka. Following a night takeoff from Crescent City-Jack McNamara Airport, the twin engine airplane adopted a low rate of climb when it crashed in flames on the Castle Rock Island (238 feet ASL) located about a mile south of the departure end of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during initial climb after the pilot-in-command misjudged altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight on behalf of the check pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Anchorage: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1979 at 0932 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Soldotna Air Service
Registration:
N402TH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Anchorage - Kenai
MSN:
402B-1034
YOM:
1975
Location:
Anchorage
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
7726
Captain / Total hours on type:
1715.00
Circumstances:
After departure from Anchorage Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered technical problems with his instruments. In zero visibility due to clouds and fog, the aircraft descended until it struck the ground and crashed few miles from Anchorage. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground following the failure of a fluxgate compass. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flight and navigation instruments: fluxgate compass,
- Material failure,
- The pilot failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- Chafed,
- Airways facilities personnel,
- Failure of ATC to properly identify the aircraft on radar,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Zero visibility,
- Aircraft observed with IFR arrival transponder code after departure,
- Flux detector wires chafed,
- Ground control cannot communicate directly with departure control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Queenstown

Date & Time: May 30, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
VH-KIB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Melbourne – Smithton – Queenstown
MSN:
402B-0518
YOM:
1973
Location:
Queenstown
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Queenstown, the twin engine airplane went into clouds. The pilot initiated a go-around when the airplane struck dead trees and crashed on Mt Sorrell. All three occupants were slightly injured and evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Subscribe to Cessna 402