# NTSB MIA85IA152: Cessna 402C, N6879Y, West Palm Beach, FL, April 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1985, 07:43 local (12:43 UTC)
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Location: 26.7153° N, 80.0534° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Palm Beach, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7153&lon=-80.0534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31285
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85IA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31285/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA152

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - not engaged (cause)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN. AN EXAM OF THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATING ROD, THE ONLY POSITIVE DOWN LOCK, REVEALED THAT IT HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6879Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6879Y-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 402C0612, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- 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: 402C0612
- Airframe hours: 1530
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Aero Coach Aviation Int'L,Inc.
- Registered owner: Quest International, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 17, 1985, 12 hours before
- Departed: FLL, FT.LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,105 total, 1,503 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850420056529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850420056529I), Apr 20, 1985: Cessna 402C, West Palm Beach, FL, Minor damage. Nose gear collapsed on landing. Actuator rod improperly adjusted precluding a proper down lock.

## Other investigations on N6879Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC97LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA183), Sep 19, 1997: Cessna 402C (N6879Y), Nantucket, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's delayed decision to perform a go-around (missed approach). Related factors were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, and disorientation of the flight crew, while making the approach in conditions…

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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