Beech 400A accident near Baltimore, Maryland, May 1, 2002
On May 1, 2002 at about 8:53 pm local time, a Beech 400A, registered N498CW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baltimore, Maryland (Baltimore Washington Intl airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The captain's failure to go around. Factors included the captain's preoccupation with the flight management system, the crew's failure to adhere to company standard operating procedures, and the lack of proper crew coordination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2002 · about 8:53 pm local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Baltimore Washington Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 400A · all 400As on the register
- Registration
- N498CW · registry record · serial RK-108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a visual approach, the captain had difficulty with the flight management system. He and the first officer exchanged words about it, and argued as to whether they were cleared for the approach. During that timeframe, with the airplane about 5 miles from the airport, 238 knots and 3,000 feet, the controller also asked the crew if they were "going to be able to get down, " to which the first officer responded, "ah, we're looking." About 30 seconds later, the first officer confirmed that the airport was in sight, and, "we'll be able to get down." After switching over to the tower frequency, the airplane was cleared to land, and about 20 seconds later, the first officer asked the captain, "You gonna be able to make it?" The captain did not respond, but 20 seconds later asked about the runway length, which the first officer gave him. The first officer then told the captain that the airplane was Vref plus forty, and twice said, "There's no way." He then said twice, "Go around." The airplane crossed the landing threshold about 150 feet agl, 166 knots, and the captain landed. The airplane subsequently overran the end of the runway, and went through some lights and antennas. A review of company standard operating procedures revealed that the crew missed numerous required callouts and checklist items, that the captain was trying to program the FMS when the first officer should have been doing it, that the captain should have initiated a go-around when advised that the airplane was not within the "visual approach window," and that after the captain did not respond to the first officer's calls, the first officer should have announced that he was assuming control, and "taken the necessary actions to return the aircraft to a safe flight condition."
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 32 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 32 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,410 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 12, 2002; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,100 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Options, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: BWI Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15L, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from BWI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.