# Accident 19970914026789A: Cessna 402C, Kivalina, AK, September 14, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 1997, 19:55 local time
- Place: Kivalina, AK
- Airport: Kivalina Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EPUA
- Location: 67.7298° N, 164.5510° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.7298&lon=-164.5510&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2649Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2649Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 402C (registry code 207590R, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,900 total, 870 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA150) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970914026789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASHED ON LANDING, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IN THE DOWN POSITION, HE OBSERVED 3 GREEN, DOWN AND LOCKED, INDICATOR LIGHTS.  HE INDICATED THAT THE TOUCHDOWN ON THE GRAVEL RUNWAY WAS NORMAL, AND THAT AS HE SLOWED THE AIRPLANE, THE AIRPLANE SETTLED ONTO ITS NOSE.  METALLURGICAL INSPECTION REVEALED OVERSTRESS FRACTURES OF THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR UPPER ATTACHMENT LUG, AND OVERSTRESS FRACTURES OF THE SUPPORTING SHEET METAL STRUCTURE.  NO PREEXISTING DEFECTS WERE NOTED.  NO REPORTS WERE RECEIVED OF PREVIOUS HARD LANDINGS.  AN INSPECTION OF THE DRAG LINK ASSEMBLY WAS CONDUCTED 45 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND NO DISCREPANCIES REGARDING THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WERE NOTED AT THAT TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA150), Sep 15, 1997: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Kivalina, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: An overstress fracture of the nose landing gear attachment. A factor associated with the accident was the rough landing area.

## Other reports on N2649Z (6)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20260713011019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260713011019I), Jul 13, 2026: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Boston, MA, No damage. [privacy data omitted] Departed from Boston, MA (bos) to providence, RI (pvd) on July 13, 2026. During climb out, the pilot declared an emergency due to number…
- [Accident 20221118013349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221118013349A), Nov 18, 2022: Cessna C402 (N2649Z), Sandwich, MA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kack on scheduled flight enroute to kbos. During cruise flight at 3500', approximately 3 miles e of kfmh, aircraft struck a flock of…
- [Incident 20120302002139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120302002139I), Mar 2, 2012: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Rockland, ME, Minor damage. The pilot reported performing a normal approach, airspeed 95 knots. Pilot reported touching down with three "green lights" however, as the nose wheel touched,…
- [Accident 19970908026091A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970908026091A), Sep 8, 1997: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Buckland, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on taxi, other circumstances are unknown. (.4)the Cessna 402C, N2649Z, and the Cessna 208B, N1123R, were both parked at the ramp area of a remote…
- [Incident 19940928039329I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940928039329I), Sep 28, 1994: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Nome, AK, Minor damage. Left engine failed enroute. Feathered prop and landed at destination. Broken NR5 piston rod.
- [Incident 19940907034259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940907034259I), Sep 7, 1994: Cessna 402C (N2649Z), Nome, AK, Minor damage. Right engine had catastrophic failure on approach. Feather landed safely. Crankshaft damper came loose.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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