# NTSB ERA23LA189: Cessna 402, N404PJ, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, April 9, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 9, 2023, 16:11 local (20:11 UTC) - Place: Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.071667, -80.149694 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0717&lon=-80.1497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 107043 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107043/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107043 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot’s ineffective use of the airplane’s brakes, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the multi-engine airplane was attempting to land on an 8,000-ft-long runway at the conclusion of an on-demand air taxi flight. He stated that the airplane touched down on the wet runway about midfield and the left brake did not work. The airplane subsequently travelled off the end of the runway into an engineered materials arresting system, where it came to rest upright. A postaccident examination of the airplane occurred in the pilot’s hangar 2 days after the accident. By that time, the pilot had begun repairs without authorization. The pilot stated that he removed and shipped the left brake assembly out for service; however, he could not provide the location of where the left brake assembly was sent. The examination also found that the left main landing gear tire displayed a large flat spot. Because left brake was not available for examination, its condition and functionality could not be evaluated. However, the large flat spot observed on the tire suggested that the brake was functioning, and that the wheel was likely skidding on the wet runway during the roll, and thus not able to effectively slow the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 2023, about 1611 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402C, N404PJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The airline transport pilot and six passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. The flight originated from Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas, about 1450, under visual flight rules, to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 10R, which was 8,000 ft long. He stated that the airplane touched down on the wet runway about midfield (between taxiways J5 and J7). The left brake “did not work,” and he did not want to apply too much right brake and lose directional control. The airplane subsequently travelled off the end of the runway into an engineered materials arresting system, where it came to rest upright. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that he traveled to FLL 2 days after the accident to examine the wreckage in a hangar. By that time, the pilot had begun repairs without authorization. The pilot stated that he removed and shipped the left brake assembly out for service; however, he could not provide the location of where the left brake assembly was sent. The inspector observed substantial damage to the airplane’s lower forward fuselage. He also noted a large flat spot on the left main landing gear tire and several cuts on the side walls of the tire. He observed that the left main landing gear brake hose was capped. It contained fluid and no evidence of leaks were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N404PJ), registered now, S/N 402C0513, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0513 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 11075 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: First Class Air Charter LLC - Registered owner: First Class Air Charter LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 11, 2022, 50 hours before - Departed: MYNN, Nassau, OF - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FLL, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, runway 10R, 8,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 26, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19,269 total, 14,850 in this make and model, 19,126 as pilot in command, 227 in the last 90 days, 104 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KFLL - METAR: SPECI KFLL 092015Z AUTO 01009KT 2 1/2SM R10L/4000VP6000FT VCTS BR FEW013 BKN038 OVC075 22/21 A2996 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT S AND W T02170206 PWINO ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230409002969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230409002969A), Apr 9, 2023: Cessna 402C, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Part 135 operation by [privacy data omitted] Cessna 402C, registration [privacy data omitted], serial number 402C0513. On landing roll on runway 10R at fll,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107043. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15696127&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted1-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15695297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Landing distance chart (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17191628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1981%20402C%20Landing%20distance%20chart-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15694208&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15694495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf 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.