Cessna 402C accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, September 23, 2003
On September 23, 2003 at about 9:23 am local time, a Cessna 402C, registered N405BK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts (Nantucket Memorial airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a missed approach. Factors in this accident were fog and the night light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2003 · about 9:23 am local time
- Place
- Nantucket, Massachusetts · Nantucket Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N405BK · no longer on the register · serial 402C-0459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting an instrument landing system approach during night instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane was observed to descend toward the runway threshold to an altitude consistent with the approach decision height. A witness reported that he heard the airplane overhead, and assumed that the pilot had performed a missed approach. He described the engine noise as "cruise power" and did not hear any unusual sounds. Shortly thereafter, he received a call from airport operations stating that an airplane had crashed. The airplane impacted the ground about 1/4 mile to the left of the runway centerline, about 3,500 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. A weather observation taken around the time of the accident, included a visibility 1/2 statue mile in fog, and an indefinite ceiling at 100 feet. The witness described the weather at the time of the accident as thick fog, and "pitch black."
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,795 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 2, 2003; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Island Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: HYA Hyannis MA at 9:07 am
- Destination: ACK Nantucket MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 6,303 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 100 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:29 am from ACK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.