Convair Div. Of Gen. Dynamics 440 incident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 22, 2005
On September 22, 2005 at about 6:20 am local time, a Convair Div. Of Gen. Dynamics 440, registered N181FL, suffered minor damage in an incident near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Regional airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew failed to verify that the cargo was secured before takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2005 · about 6:20 am local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha Regional · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Convair Div. Of Gen. Dynamics 440
- Registration
- N181FL · registry record · serial 387
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained minor damage during takeoff when the cargo shifted and the airplane settled on its tail. The takeoff was aborted and the airplane remained on the runway. The Captain reported that the flight had arrived at the airport at 2350. The flight crew un-strapped the freight, but left the cargo door closed due to thunderstorms in the area. The Captain reported that they waited for 1.5 hours for the ground crew to arrive to off-load the cargo. When the ground crew failed to arrive, the Captain contacted the company. The company requested the flight crew to reposition the airplane to another airport and have the cargo off-loaded there. The flight crew prepared for the flight by checking the weather and completing the required paperwork. The Captain reported, "Since we un-strapped the freight for off load almost 2 hours ago, we didn't think to check the freight." The Captain reported that they initiated its takeoff roll, but after about 400 feet, the cargo shifted and the airplane's tail struck the runway.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,691 hours in all; 3,269 in this make and model; 249 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 3,410 as pilot in command; 812 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 628 as pilot in command; 216 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,580 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 1, 2005; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 58,156 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 501D13 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gulf And Caribbean Cargo, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: ENW Kenosha WI at 6:20 am
- Destination: MKE Milwaukee WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24R, 5,499 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 6:05 am from ENW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.