Cessna 402C accident near Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico, February 10, 2015
On February 10, 2015 at about 3:39 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 402C, registered N223PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico (Antonio Rivera Rodriquez Airpo airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a strong crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2015 · about 3:39 pm local time
- Place
- Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico · Antonio Rivera Rodriquez Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402C, built 1979 · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N223PB · registry record · serial 402C0105
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was conducting a scheduled commuter flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after touchdown, the airplane encountered a wind gust and subsequently veered off of the runway. During the runway excursion, the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the landing gear and braking systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. Although no archived weather information was available at the accident airport, the nearest weather reporting station recorded wind at the time of the accident that would have resulted in a direct 20-knot right crosswind. A review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook showed that the airplane had a maximum-demonstrated crosswind component of 15 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,726 hours in all; 802 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 77 in the last 30 days; 1,217 as pilot in command; 270 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34,678 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 22, 2015; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,250 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 1,466 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 1,809 hours total
- Operator: Hyannis Air Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: TJSJ San Juan PR at 3:15 pm
- Destination: TJVQ Vieques PR
- Runway 9, 4,301 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TJNR, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N223PB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.