Beech 400 accident near Cleveland, Ohio, May 8, 2002
On May 8, 2002 at about 7:22 pm local time, a Beech 400, registered N400GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Ohio (Burke Lakefront Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Ingestion of birds into both engines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2002 · about 7:22 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Ohio · Burke Lakefront Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 400 · all 400s on the register
- Registration
- N400GJ · no longer on the register · serial RJ23
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on the takeoff roll, as the airspeed increased, the co-pilot called "V1," and immediately alerted the pilot to the presence of birds. The birds began to impact the airplane and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet prior to the departure end of the runway. Examination revealed that both engines had ingested birds.
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: 6,300 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,110 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 382 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,365 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 5, 2002; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,780 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT150-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT150-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKL Cleveland OH at 7:22 pm
- Destination: IAD Dulles VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6L, 6,198 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:02 pm from BKL
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.