# NTSB ATL95LA028: Cessna 402B, N7628R, Hickory, NC, December 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1994, 09:18 local (14:18 UTC) - Place: Hickory, NC - Location: 35.7307° N, 81.4019° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from HICKORY RGNL (HKY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7307&lon=-81.4019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3506 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3506/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA028 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE TRANSITION TO LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LONG LANDING AND OVERRUN. FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG WHICH PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD JUST EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND REQUESTED AN ILS APPROACH TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. DURING THE ILS, HE OBSERVED OFF FLAGS ON THE GLIDE SLOPE, AND TRANSITIONED TO A LOCALIZER APPROACH. HE BROKE OUT OF THE WEATHER, AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 24. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY DISTANCE. THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY, COLLIDED WITH A FENCE, AND CAME TO REST AGAINST AN EMBANKMENT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DIVING TOWARD THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, AND A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION SUPERVISOR ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT THE 1,800 FOOT REMAINING POINT ON THE 6,400 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 1994, at 0918 eastern standard time, a Cessna 402B, N7628R, overran runway 24, then collided with a fence and terrain at the Hickory Regional Airport, Hickory, North Carolina. The flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 by Ramp 66, with an instrument flight plan activated. Instrument weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial impact and fire damage; the pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated in Charlotte, North Carolina, at 0838. The pilot reported that he originally was filed to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Enroute to his destination, the weather deteriorated. The reported visibility dropped from 2 miles to one half miles in fog. He flew a localizer approach to the airport in North Wilkesboro, and executed a missed approach due to the weather. He requested an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to the Hickory airport. During the approach to Hickory, he observed an off flag on the glide slope (both receivers) and transitioned to a localizer approach. Upon reaching the minimum descent altitude (MDA) he began to see ground references, then he observed the runway. He landed the airplane, and raised the flaps to aid in braking. He elected not to attempt a touch and go, due to obstacles at the departure end of the runway. Unable to stop the aircraft with maximum braking, the aircraft departed the paved surface at the departure end of runway 24. He steered the aircraft straight ahead, down a hill, and through a chain link fence. The aircraft came to a stop against an embankment, resting on a paved road. Personnel with the Hickory Flight Service Station observed the aircraft during landing sequence. Two employees observed the aircraft in a dive, toward the midfield point of runway 24. The Area Supervisor stated that the aircraft appeared to be in a diving, right turn toward runway 24. He estimated that the aircraft landed at the 1,800 foot remaining point on the runway (the runway is 6,400 feet long). He did not believe that the aircraft could be stopped in that distance. The aircraft disappeared behind some trees, then smoke was observed coming from the area of the crash site. The aircraft radios, including the ILS equipment, were removed from the wreckage so that bench testing could be performed. All navigational equipment was found to be operational. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7628R (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B0571 - Airframe hours: 4739 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Grand Strand Aviation, doing business as Ramp 66 - Registered owner: Grand Strand Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1994 - Departed: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC - Destination: UKF, NO. WILKESBORO, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HKY, Hickory Regional, runway 24, 6,400 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; airline transport, student, foreign, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,510 total, 205 in this make and model, 1,410 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HKY, 1 nm away 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.