# NTSB NYC78FA054: Cessna 402B, N98720, Trenton, ME, May 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 16, 1978
- Place: Trenton, ME · TRENTON, ME
- Location: 44.4390° N, 68.3700° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Trenton, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4390&lon=-68.3700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141550
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA054
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA054

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2338  78/5/16    TRENTON,ME          CESSNA 402B         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2210                    N98720              PX-  2  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 39, 7866 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2365 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BAR HARBOR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BANGOR,ME                   TRENTON,ME
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           STALL                                                    LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO RETRACT LANDING GEAR
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       51
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PIC NOT DETERMINED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98720](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98720-1981-10-13), registration cancelled 1981-10-13, S/N 402B1065 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B
- Registry model: [Cessna 402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (registry code 207590P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Bar Harbor

## 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 19780516027169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780516027169A), May 16, 1978: Cessna 402B, Trenton, ME, Destroyed, 2 fatal. PIC not determined.

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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