Cessna 402B accident near Geneva, Alabama, February 14, 1993
On February 14, 1993 at about 4:43 pm local time, a Cessna 402B, registered N69402, was destroyed in an accident near Geneva, Alabama (Geneva Municipal airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1993 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Geneva, Alabama · Geneva Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N69402 · no longer on the register · serial 402B0535
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AERIAL PHOTO FLIGHT WAS COMMENCING WITH THE PILOT AND OPERATOR ON BOARD. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINES SOUNDED GOOD ON THE GROUND AND DURING THE T/O GROUND ROLL. AT ABOUT 30 TO 40 FEET AGL, HE HEARD 'SURGING' SOUNDS FROM THE AIRPLANE. HE THEN OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SHALLOW RIGHT HAND TURN AS IT APPROACHED DEPARTURE END TREES. HE THEN SAW THE AIRCRAFT ROLL OFF TO THE LEFT, INTO THE TREES IN A STEEP, NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES AND TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FOUND INVERTED. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINES DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF BOTH TURBOCHARGERS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF ROTATION AT IMPACT. EXAM OF BOTH PROPELLERS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF BLADE TIP TWISTING TOWARD LOW PITCH AND SOME FORWARD BENDING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,750 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 33J at 4:43 pm
- Destination: 33J
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,984 ft by 98 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DHN, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.