# NTSB ERA24FA305: Cessna 402, N7875E, Easton, MD, July 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: July 16, 2024, 09:32 local (13:32 UTC) - Place: Easton, MD · River - Coordinates: 38.749383, -76.120883 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7494&lon=-76.1209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: University Research Foundation, FAA/FSDO, Continental Motors, Textron - NTSB case key (mKey): 194704 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24FA305 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194704/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA305 ## Preliminary report On July 16, 2024, about 0932 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402B, N7875E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Easton, Maryland. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. According to the operator, the purpose of the accident flight was to reposition the airplane to Easton Airport (ESN), Easton, Maryland, to conduct future atmospheric testing flights. Two days prior to the accident flight, ground engine runs were performed by maintenance personnel at the conclusion of an annual inspection. Following the ground engine runs, the pilot stated to his manager that 12 gallons of fuel remained in each main (tip) fuel tank, and he was going to add 20 additional gallons to each main fuel tank so that he did not have to switch tanks during the upcoming flight to ESN (accident flight). However, airport security video showed that the pilot added 20 gallons of fuel to each auxiliary fuel tank, rather than the main fuel tanks. The airplane was not flown from the time of that fueling, to the accident flight. Review of preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the flight departed Tipton Airport (FME), Fort Meade, Maryland at 0857. The flight proceeded uneventfully toward ESN. About 0928, the pilot contacted the ESN air traffic control tower and reported a “pretty significant engine problem.” At that time, the airplane was about 12 miles southwest of ESN and the controller instructed the pilot to enter a right base leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 15 and to report a 2-mile right base leg. About 1 minute later, the pilot reported that the airplane was at 2,400 ft mean sea level and setting up for a right base leg, with a “pretty bad right engine.” About 30 seconds later, the pilot declared an emergency and stated that both engines were losing power. The controller cleared the airplane to land on runway 15 via an approach from any direction; however, the pilot replied that he was not going to reach the airport and was going to try to land in a field. The airplane subsequently impacted the Tred Avon River about 4 miles southwest of ESN. The left wing, including left engine, separated about 1 ft outboard of the wing root and was not located. The remaining wreckage remained intact and was subsequently examined at a recovery facility. The cockpit remained intact. The pilot seat lapbelt and shoulder harness remained attached and were unfastened. The left engine controls were in the full forward position. The right engine controls were between mid-range and full forward. The right fuel selector handle was in the auxiliary fuel tank position and the left engine fuel selector handle was in the crossfeed position. The flap handle was in the 15° flap extended (approach flaps) setting. The landing gear was in the extended position. Flight control continuity was confirmed from thecockpit controls to the elevator, elevator trim, rudder, and rudder trim. Aileron control continuity for both wings was confirmed from the yoke to the nacelle area. Both right wing fuel tanks were breached during impact. The bottom sparkplugs were removed from the right engine and the propeller was rotated by hand. The sparkplug electrodes were intact and exhibited some corrosion consistent with water immersion. Water emanated from the sparkplug holes during rotation. Crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine. Both magnetos sparked at all leads when bench tested. The unmetered fuel line, from the engine driven fuel pump to the fuel metering valve, contained about 1/2 ounce of fuel. The fuel was blue, clear, and absent of any visible contamination. A few drops of fuel were recovered in the engine driven fuel pump and in the screen at the metering valve, but in total, less than 1 ounce of fuel was recovered from the right engine and its fuel system. The fuel nozzles, fuel manifold screen, and oil filter screen were absent of contamination. The pilot’s most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on March 27, 2024. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 4,100 hours, with 0 hours accrued during the preceding 6 months. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7875E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7875E), registered now, S/N 402B0432, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (registry code 207590P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B0432 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 6180 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: University Research Foundation - Registered owner: University Research Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2024, 1 hours before - Departed: FME, Tipton, MD - Destination: ESN, Easton, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: ESN, 4 nm away - METAR: KESN 161332Z 22006KT 10SM CLR 31/25 A2987 ## 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 20240716015739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240716015739A), Jul 16, 2024: Cessna 402B, Easton, MD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On July 16, 2024, a Cessna 402 enroute from fort meade (tipton airport) MD, crashed into the tred avon river, 3.6 NM south west of the Easton, MD (kesn)… 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.