Cessna 402 accident near Boston, Massachusetts, September 17, 2024
On September 17, 2024 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 402, registered N18VV, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Boston, Massachusetts (General Edward Lawrence Logan airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of a solid hydraulic fluid line, which resulted in a loss of hydraulic fluid that prevented the landing gear extension process from completing normally. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s failure to fully activate the emergency landing gear extension system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2024 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts · General Edward Lawrence Logan · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402 C, built 1981 · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N18VV · no longer on the register · serial 402C0619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during climb out, he noticed a flicker of both the left and right hydraulic flow lights. He thought the airplane was losing hydraulic pressure, so he tried to extend the landing gear before all pressure was lost. Only the left main landing gear position green light illuminated. The hydraulic flow lights then illuminated steadily. He returned to the airport and performed the emergency landing gear extension checklist; however, the right and nose landing gear did not extend, and he landed with only the left main landing gear extended. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a solid hydraulic line connected to the hydraulic filter was fractured and the system contained no hydraulic fluid. It is likely that the fracture of the hydraulic line and the subsequent loss of hydraulic fluid resulted in the partial landing gear extension. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records could not determine the age of the hydraulic line or if any maintenance had been performed on the hydraulic line. Postaccident testing of the emergency landing gear extension system revealed that if functioned normally when the activation handle was fully extended. Based on this information, it is likely the pilot did not pull the emergency handle out far enough to activate the system.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
- Landing gear not configured during emergency descent
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect use/operation other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,777 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 277 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,516 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 3, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,720 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO520VB (piston); 2,633 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO520VB (piston); 2,633 hours total
- Operator: Hyannis Air Service INC
The flight
- Destination: BHB Bar Harbor ME
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4L, 7,864 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 19,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from BOS
Weather report (METAR): KBOS 172154Z 14007KT 10SM BKN190 OVC250 23/06 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP215 T02280056
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 1 – Main wreckage, note: right wing leading edge damage
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 2 – Main wreckage, front view
INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOS Photograph 3 – Fractured Hydraulic lineThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Maintenance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Cessna 402 QRH | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Cessna Illustrated Parts Catalog (Excerpt) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Technical Notice | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N18VV: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 402 174 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental TSIO520VB 11 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Continental TSIO520VB 11 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- General Edward Lawrence Logan International · nearest airport
- Hancock County/Bar Harbor · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Massachusetts 987 since 1982 · 91 in the last ten years
- Massachusetts 2,649 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA24LA386.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.