Lockheed 402-2 accident near Headquarters, Idaho, July 4, 2003
On July 4, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Lockheed 402-2, registered N3380G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Headquarters, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper preflight planning and improper fuel consumption calculations. Factors contributing to the accident included the unfavorable wind condition, the downdraft, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Headquarters, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed 402-2
- Registration
- N3380G · no longer on the register · serial 1010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
With no refueler at departure airport, the pilot felt he had enough fuel to make it to his destination. En route he realized he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination and chose to return to the departure airport. Encountering a 25 knot headwind and realizing he would not have enough fuel to reach his destination, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing at an old logging staging area/road. While attempting to land on the unused emergency strip, the aircraft encountered a downdraft and struck trees at the end of the runway. Both wings, the rudder, elevator, and both horizontal and vertical stabilizers sustained substantial damage.
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: private
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,986 hours in all; 749 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,986 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,794 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2003; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S68 Orofino ID at 6:35 pm
- Destination: Headquarters ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from LWS, 61 miles away
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.