Cessna 402C accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 12, 2002
On March 12, 2002 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 402C, registered N38CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque International airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the left main landing gear scissors assembly which resulted from improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 2002 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N38CJ · registry record · serial 402C-0023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Part 135 cargo flight passed the outer marker and lowered the landing gear with "three greens and everything looked normal." He touched down on the runway at the fixed distance markers, held the nose off the ground, and the "plane felt as if the main gear (RH) was locked and I was riding the brakes." After he released pressure on the rudder, the plane drifted to the right, so the pilot lowered the nose wheel to gain steering control to no avail. Subsequently, the plane continued to drift and the left propeller struck the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear had collapsed upon landing. Further examination showed that the left main landing gear Torque Link Assembly P/N 5141005-7 (scissors assembly) had failed. Maintenance had been performed (removed and replaced worn bushings) on the main and nose landing gear scissors assemblies 22.1 hours prior to the accident.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,546 hours in all; 286 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 4, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,759 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 4, 2002; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,210 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SOW Show Low AR at 2:40 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.