- Date
- February 14, 1993, 10:43 local (16:43 UTC)
- Place
- Geneva, AL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N69402Cessna 402B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930214002349A
- Case key
- 8684
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N69402
- Reported as
- Cessna 402B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B0535
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-E, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Lewis, Geoffrey D.
- Registered owner
- Sanderlin, D.C.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- 33J
- Destination
- 33J
- Airport
- 33J · Geneva Municipal, runway 29, 3,984 × 98 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,750 total · 12 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DHN, 27 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.