Cessna 401 accident near Jessup, Georgia, February 10, 1982
On February 10, 1982 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 401, registered N8299F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jessup, Georgia (Wayne County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1982 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Jessup, Georgia · Wayne County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401 · all 401s on the register
- Registration
- N8299F · no longer on the register · serial 401-0246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER REACHING A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 9500 FEET THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO REDUCE THE LEFT THROTTLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE LEVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WHEN THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR WAS TURNED OFF BUT RELIT ABOUT 3 MINUTES LATER. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT THAT FOLLOWED ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST AND THE COPILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CRANK DOWN THE LANDING GEAR. DURING LANDING ROLL THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE WING CONTINUED TO BURN. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE RETURN LINE LOCATED ON THE FIREWALL WAS FINGER TIGHT. THE OTHER FITTING WAS SECURE AND THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL CALL FOR 30-40 INCH-POUNDS OF TORQUE ON THAT FITTING. THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW APPROVED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR AN INFLIGHT WING OR ENGINE FIRE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,104 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 9,009 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Valdosta GA
- Destination: Savannah GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 138°F (59°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from AMG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.