Beech 400 accident near Cleveland, Ohio, February 24, 1994
On February 24, 1994 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Beech 400, registered N8279G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Ohio (Cuyahoga County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to use the proper radio frequency to activate the airport runway lights, and the pilot's improper decision to continue his approach and land without the runway lights being on.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1994 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Ohio · Cuyahoga County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 400 · all 400s on the register
- Registration
- N8279G · no longer on the register · serial RK-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach, the copilot attempted to turn on the runway lights by keying his microphone, but could not get the lights to activate. They further reported that they continued the approach and had the VASI lights in sight. The runway did not have VASI lights. About one minute before touchdown, the copilot said he did know where the runway was, but for the pilot '...to hold what he had.' About 45 seconds before touchdown the pilot said he had the '...runway now.' The copilot said he had the runway in sight also. They continued the approach until the airplane collided with terrain between the runway and a taxiway. The runway lights did not activate. Examination revealed that none of the communications radios were tuned to the proper frequency to activate the lights.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 850 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,100 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT15D-5 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Beechcraft Sales - South, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FDY Finley OH at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 5,101 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from CGF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.