# Accident 20021204034159A: Cessna 402C, Lewisville, TX, December 4, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 4, 2002, 06:16 local time
- Place: Lewisville, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1697° N, 97.0322° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1697&lon=-97.0322&mi=10
- Aircraft: N402ME, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N402ME-2017-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 402C (registry code 207590R, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021204034159A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON DECEMBER 4, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 0616 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 402C MULTIENGINE AIRPLANE, N402ME, OPERATED BY TEX STAR AIR FREIGHT INC., OF DENTON, TEXAS, IMPACTED THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY A 70 DEGREE PITCH ANGLE DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT IN THE VICINITY OF LEWISVILLE, TEXAS. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE DENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (DTO IN DENTON, TEXAS, AT APPROXIMATELY 0611 LCL, AND ITS INTENDED DESTINATION WAS DALLAS LOVE FIELD, (DAL) DALLAS, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, NICHOLAS TROY HIBBERD, PILOT CERTIFICATE NO. 539829824, RECIEVED FATAL INJURIES. MR HIBBERD WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING HEADING TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SHORTLY BEFORE THE IMPACT OCCURRED. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 REPOSITIONING FLIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING INSTALLATION OF THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR.

## 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 FTW03FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA054), Dec 4, 2002: Cessna 402C (N402ME), Lewisville, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the attitude indicator, and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control as a result of spatial disorientation following the failure of the attitude indicator. Contributing factors…

## Other reports on N402ME (3)

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

- [Incident 19980602024269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980602024269I), Jun 2, 1998: Cessna 402C (N402ME), Syracuse, NY. Rt engines oil pressure had dropped to 20PSI. Maintenance found metal contamination in filter.
- [Incident 19950207002799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950207002799I), Feb 7, 1995: Cessna 402C (N402ME), Buffalo, NY, Minor damage. Narrative: on 2/7/95 at approx. 0745 EST, a Cessna 402, registration N402ME, being operated by business air, experienced a right main landing gear failure upon…
- [Incident 19921001044589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921001044589I), Oct 1, 1992: Cessna 402C (N402ME), Utica, NY, Minor damage. Unsafe nose gear light. Landed nose gear up. Found cracked hydraulic line. Emergency extension improperly rigged.

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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