Cessna 402B accident near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, December 14, 1992
On December 14, 1992, a Cessna 402B, registered N17CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Cedar Rapids Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 7 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1992
- Place
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa · Cedar Rapids Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N17CH · no longer on the register · serial 402B0519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE SECOND ILS APPROACH THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE GLIDEPATH AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN 2,500 FEET SHORT OF THE INTENDED LANDING RUNWAY. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT A FAILURE IN THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. A POST ACCIDENT FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILED TO REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,929 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1992; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dwyer Aircraft Sales, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City MO at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 8,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded at 300 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.