- Date
- September 8, 2004, 07:04 local (11:04 UTC)
- Place
- Charleston, WV
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5774CCessna 402C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20040908031189A
- Case key
- 60084
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining. A factor was the wet runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was departing on a wet runway. About halfway down the runway, during rotation, the left nose cargo door opened. The pilot aborted the takeoff, but the airplane traveled off the end of the runway and struck an embankment. Review of the airplane information manual revealed that an open cargo door would not strike the propeller or cause any unusual handling characteristics; and that a takeoff with an open cargo door could be successfully completed. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical discrepancies, nor did the pilot report any.
Factual narrative
On September 8, 2004, about 0704 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402C, N5774C, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Norfolk, Virginia. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the air taxi flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135.
The pilot stated that he was departing on runway 33, a 4,751-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot further stated the runway was wet due to rain. About halfway down the runway, during rotation, the left nose cargo door opened. The pilot aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane overran the runway and struck an embankment.
Review of a Cessna 402C Information Manual revealed:
"If a baggage door is left unlatched, it may open as the nose is raised on takeoff. The door will not hit a propeller nor will there be any unusual handling characteristics. If sufficient runway remains for a safe abort, the airplane should be stopped. If the decision is made to continue the takeoff, maintain airspeed below 120 KIAS and return for landing as soon as practical. Avoid lowering the nose abruptly which could throw loose objects out of the compartment."
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any discrepancies with the cargo door latches, nor did the pilot report any.
The reported weather at CRW, at 0714, was: wind from 050 degrees at 9 knots; visibility 5 miles in rain and mist; few clouds at 1,000 feet; ceiling broken at 1,700 feet; ceiling overcast at 3,600 feet; temperature 69 degrees F; dew point 66 degrees F; altimeter 29.80 inches Hg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5774C
- Reported as
- Cessna 402C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402C0039
- Engines
- Continental TSIO-520, reciprocatingContinental TSIO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Race City Air
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CRW · Charleston, WV
- Destination
- ORF · Norfolk, VA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- CRW · Yeager Airport, runway 33, 4,751 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,325 total · 40 in this make and model · 2,235 as pilot in command · 214 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- CRW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.