Cessna 402B accident near Billings, Montana, February 20, 2001
On February 20, 2001 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 402B, registered N69316, was substantially damaged in an accident near Billings, Montana (Billings Logan International airport). It was an instructional 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
Best rate-of-climb single-engine speed was not maintained. Delayed remedial action was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2001 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings Logan International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N69316 · no longer on the register · serial 402B0433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a simulated single-engine out go-around, the pilot reported that he applied full power to the left engine (right engine had been set at zero thrust) and maintained "blue line" (118 MPH- IAS). The descent rate was arrested and the flaps then the landing gear were retracted. The pilot reported that at this point he was flying by visual cues and noted that the aircraft altitude was descending below the minimum descent altitude, and the aircraft felt "mushy." The pilot crossed checked the flight instruments and noted that the aircraft was not climbing and continuing to descend. The pilot stated that, he lowered the nose giving up altitude for airspeed, but realized that the airspeed was at the minimum controllable airspeed or a little above. The pilot immediately applied full power to the right engine, however the aircraft continued to settle and contacted the runway in a wings level and slightly nose high attitude. The check pilot onboard reported that full power was on the left engine, and nearly or full power was on the right engine at the time of impact. Both pilots felt that the main landing gear was retracted, however the nose gear might not have been fully retracted.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,113 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 5,618 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 6, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,828 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 2,723 as pilot in command; 2,123 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 12, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,928 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 2000; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520E (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520E8B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 2:30 pm
- Destination: BIL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10L, 10,528 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from BIL
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.