# NTSB FTW82AA046: Robertson C-402B, N4244Z, Laredo, TX, January 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1982, 09:53 local (15:53 UTC)
- Place: Laredo, TX
- Coordinates: 27.549957, -99.460304 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5500&lon=-99.4603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71369
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82AA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71369/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82AA046

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, copilot/second pilot
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE EXTREMELY SLOW THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH & THAT THE PLT APPEARED TO BE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY WITH OVER-CONTROLLING THE ACFT. IT THEN LEVELED OUT AT 50-80 FT AGL ON FINAL OVER THE THRESHOLD, ENTERED A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE & THEN STALLED INTO A RIGHT SPIN. THE PLT HAD FLOWN TO MEMPHIS, TN TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH THE OTHER PLT TO PICK UP THE STOL EQUIPPED ACFT. THE VENDOR'S CHIEF PLT CHECKED OUT THE PLT IN THE ACFT DURING THE RETURN FLT TO HOUSTON,TX. ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE TWO PLTS WHO WERE ONBOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT FLEW A LOCAL FLT FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS & THEN FLEW TO DILLEY,TX FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 HOURS. WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THE PLT WHO HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT BY THE VENDOR'S CHIEF PLT WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT SEAT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4244Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4244Z-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 402B1026, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBERTSON C-402B
- 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: 1026
- Airframe hours: 1524
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vernon L. Meyer
- Registered owner: Vernon L. Meyer
- Departed: C, DILLEY, TX
- Destination: C, LAREDO, TX
- Airport: LRD, Laredo International, runway 17, 8,201 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 5,666 total, 42 in this make and model, 4,577 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 138 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820124001789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820124001789A), Jan 24, 1982: Cessna STC402CESSNA, Laredo, TX, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Aircraft crashed on short final for landing. Witnesses described stall with 1/4 turn to right spin into ground.

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.

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