Cessna 402 accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts, December 4, 2017
On December 4, 2017 at about 10:25 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 402, registered N2748Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Hyannis, Massachusetts (Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
Encounter with a flock of birds during takeoff at night, resulting in multiple bird strikes and structural damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2017 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Hyannis, Massachusetts · Barnstable Muni-Boardman/Polan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402 C, built 1979 · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N2748Y · no longer on the register · serial 402C0248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he took off at night, and during the initial climb about 800ft above the ground, the airplane ran into a flock of birds. The pilot declared an emergency with the tower and landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wind screen and the windscreen frame. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Birdstrike during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,900 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 31, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 33,449.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 5, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 7,250 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520-VB (piston); 7,130 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520-VB (piston); 7,276 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HYA Hyannis ME at 10:20 pm
- Destination: HYA Hyannis ME
- Runway 06, 5,425 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.46 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KHYA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 8, 2018. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.
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.