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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

February 14, 1993 · Cessna 402B · N69402

Geneva, AL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 14, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Geneva, AL
Aircraft
Cessna 402B
Tail Number
N69402
Operator
Lewis Geoffrey D
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL93FA058

The aerial photo flight was commencing with the pilot and operator on board. A witness reported that the engines sounded good on the ground and during the takeoff ground roll. At about 30 to 40 feet above ground level, he heard 'surging' sounds from the airplane. He then observed the aircraft in a shallow right hand turn as it approached departure end trees. He then saw the aircraft roll off to the left, into the trees in a steep, nose low, left wing low attitude. The aircraft crashed into trees and terrain and was destroyed by impact forces and fire. Investigation revealed that the aircraft impacted the ground in a left wing low attitude. The main wreckage was found inverted. An inspection of the engines did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of both turbochargers revealed evidence of rotation at impact. Examination of both propellers revealed evidence of blade tip twisting toward low pitch and some forward bending.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

THE AERIAL PHOTO FLIGHT WAS COMMENCING WITH THE PILOT AND OPERATOR ON BOARD. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINES SOUNDED GOOD ON THE GROUND AND DURING THE T/O GROUND ROLL. AT ABOUT 30 TO 40 FEET AGL, HE HEARD 'SURGING' SOUNDS FROM THE AIRPLANE. HE THEN OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SHALLOW RIGHT HAND TURN AS IT APPROACHED DEPARTURE END TREES. HE THEN SAW THE AIRCRAFT ROLL OFF TO THE LEFT, INTO THE TREES IN A STEEP, NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES AND TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FOUND INVERTED. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINES DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF BOTH TURBOCHARGERS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF ROTATION AT IMPACT. EXAM OF BOTH PROPELLERS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF BLADE TIP TWISTING TOWARD LOW PITCH AND SOME FORWARD BENDING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:43 CST
Nearest AirportGeneva Municipal (1nm WNW)
Runway29
Runway Length3984 ft
Runway Width98 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402B
Tail NumberN69402
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorLewis Geoffrey D
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 25 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 4 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data