Cessna 402B N49PB
4 February 1989 · Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 February 1989 at about 17:40 local time, a Cessna 402B registered N49PB, operated by Spectrum Airlines, was involved in an accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States. 10 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Barnstable Muni (HYA)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B
- Registration
- N49PB
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Spectrum Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Nantucket
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89LA081
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN IMPROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE (AFT CG). THE AFT CG ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNCOMMANDED ALTITUDE DEVIATION AFTER TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
NINE MEMBERS OF A VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM BOARDED THE ACFT W/O THE PLT GETTING ACCURATE PASSENGER WEIGHTS & THE BAGGAGE WAS PLACED IN THE AFT BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. AS THE PLT ENTERED THE CABIN & WAS CLOSING THE DOOR, THE TAIL OF THE ACFT FELL HARD TO THE RAMP. THE PLT RAISED THE TAIL & ELECTED TO CONT THE FLT. AFTER REBOARDING, HE TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY & BEGAN THE TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 200 TO 400 FT AGL, THE PLT ANNOUNCED THERE WAS A PROBLEM & ASKED THE PASSENGERS TO MOVE FORWARD. AT THAT TIME, THE NOSE OF THE ACFT WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL & THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PASSENGERS MOVED AS FAR FORWARD AS FEASIBLE & STAYED THERE UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT WAS LANDED. A POST-FLT EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A STRINGER, REAR BULKHEAD, ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE & THE HOUSING FOR THE TAIL NAVIGATION LIGHT WERE DAMAGED. NO BALLAST WAS INSTALLED IN THE FORWARD BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. A RECALCULATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WEIGHT & BALANCE, USING THE ACTUAL WEIGHTS OF THE PASSENGERS, REVEALED THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG) WAS BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 402 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1989 | Cessna 402B | Little Rock, Arkansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Aug 1989 | Cessna 402B | Seattle, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Feb 1989 | Cessna 402B | Corona, California, United States | - | Fatal | 10 |
| 13 Mar 1989 | Cessna 402A | Miami, Florida, United States | REA, Lawrence E. (Jr.) | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1989 | Cessna 402 | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | Baker Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1989 | Cessna 402C | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Jet Flite | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1989 | MBB ME 209 | Chatham, Massachusetts, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1989 | Cessna 172P | Gardner, Massachusetts, United States | Peter Erik Thomassen | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Sep 1989 | Enstrom F28A | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | TMA Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 1989 | Beechcraft 1900C | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1989 | Smeesters RV-4 | North Andover, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |