Cessna 402B accident near St. Thomas, September 24, 1990
On September 24, 1990 at about 4:24 pm local time, a Cessna 402B, registered N4440K, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Thomas (Cyril E. King airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
SEPARATION OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TORQUE TUBE BRACKET ASSEMBLY DUE TO SHEARED RIVETS FROM A PREVIOUS HARD SIDE LOAD LANDING WHICH WAS NOT REPORTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1990 · about 4:24 pm local time
- Place
- St. Thomas · Cyril E. King
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4440K · registry record · serial 402B-00861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN WITH THE GEAR DOWN & LOCKED WHILE TAXIING OFF THE RWY, THE LT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF MAINT., THE LEFT LANDING GEAR BRACKET-ASSY, GEAR TORQUE TURBE, CAME LOOSE AFTER THE RIVETS SHEARED PROBABLY DUE TO A HARD SIDE LOAD LANDING WHICH WAS NOT REPORTED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,230 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 5,764 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,311 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1990; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJU San Juan PR at 4:00 pm
- Destination: STT St. Thomas
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 5,348 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:40 pm from STT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.