Cessna 402C and Cessna 402C accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, February 12, 1994
On February 12, 1994 at about 5:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 402C (N812AN) and Cessna 402C (N26514), were involved in the same accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Grand Canyon airport). 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 THE LEFT BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO A WORN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO TAXI AT A SPEED AND SPACING INTERVAL WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR SUCCESSFUL REMEDIAL ACTION.
THE FAILURE OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT'S LEFT BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO A WORN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE FAILURE OF THE OTHER PILOT TO TAXI AT A SPEED AND SPACING INTERVAL WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR SUCCESSFUL REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 1994 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Grand Canyon · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N812AN · no longer on the register · serial 402C0229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N26514 · registry record · serial 402C0344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 402C final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO CESSNA 402C'S COLLIDED WHILE TAXIING FOR DEPARTURE. THE FLIGHT CREW OF N26514 REPORTED THEY TAXIED TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY, STOPPED AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE, THEN 1 MINUTE LATER THEY FELT A LARGE JOLT FROM BEHIND. THE PILOT OF N812AN STATED THAT AS SHE APPROACHED THE REAR OF THE AIR VEGAS AIRCRAFT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE COMPANY PILOT WHO FLEW N812AN IN REVENUE LINE OPERATIONS ON FEBRUARY 11 REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A FADING OF THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL DURING LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER REAPPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT ITSELF. THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF N812AN WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA A & P MECHANIC ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY. HE SAID UNDER HARD BRAKING THE LEFT BRAKE OPERATED NORMALLY; HOWEVER, UNDER LESS FORCEFUL BRAKE APPLICATION THE PEDAL WOULD GRADUALLY SINK TO THE BOTTOM OF ITS TRAVEL PREVENTING THE PRESSURIZATION OF THE LEFT BRAKE 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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 402C final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO CESSNA 402C'S COLLIDED WHILE TAXIING FOR DEPARTURE. THE FLIGHT CREW OF N26514 REPORTED THEY TAXIED TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY, STOPPED AT THE HOLD SHORT LINE, THEN 1 MINUTE LATER THEY FELT A LARGE JOLT FROM BEHIND. THE PILOT OF N812AN STATED THAT AS SHE APPROACHED THE REAR OF THE AIR VEGAS AIRCRAFT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH NO EFFECT ON THE SPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE COMPANY PILOT WHO FLEW N812AN IN REVENUE LINE OPERATIONS ON FEBRUARY 11 REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A FADING OF THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL DURING LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER REAPPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT ITSELF. THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF N812AN WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA A & P MECHANIC ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY. HE SAID UNDER HARD BRAKING THE LEFT BRAKE OPERATED NORMALLY; HOWEVER, UNDER LESS FORCEFUL BRAKE APPLICATION THE PEDAL WOULD GRADUALLY SINK TO THE BOTTOM OF ITS TRAVEL PREVENTING THE PRESSURIZATION OF THE LEFT BRAKE 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 for the Cessna 402C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 675 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,899 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 27, 1994; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Nevada Airlines, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GCN at 5:20 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from GCN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 402C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,660 as pilot in command; 1,550 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,781 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 5, 1994; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,800 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Avi, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GCN at 5:20 pm
- Destination: L15 Las Vegas NV
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.