Cessna C-402B accident near Boise, Idaho, November 16, 1991
On November 16, 1991 at about 9:56 am local time, a Cessna C-402B, registered N29517, was destroyed in an accident near Boise, Idaho (Boise airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE ENGINE BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE PILOT DUE TO HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY CONFIGURE THE AIRCRAFT AND PERFORM A PROPER SINGLE ENGINE CLIMB MANEUVER, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SINGLE ENGINE CLIMB AIRSPEED. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1991 · about 9:56 am local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · Boise · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-402B
- Registration
- N29517 · no longer on the register · serial 402B0031
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ANNOUNCED HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE DURING INITIAL CLIMB AT 300-400 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF ON A VFR NIGHT CARGO FLT. THE TOWER CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT AND LAND ON ANY RWY. THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN, IMPACTED THE GND ONE MILE FROM THE ARPT, AND IGNITED IN FLAMES. EVIDENCE INDICATED THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS NOT OPERATING AT IMPACT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND THE RIGHT PROPELLER WAS IN THE HIGH PITCH POSITION. EXAM OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED BLOCKED FUEL INJECTORS, INCORRECT SIZE FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND BURNED/PITTED BREAKER POINTS IN A MAGNETO.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,864 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,994 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 18, 1991; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI0-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Regional Express CO.
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 9:54 am
- Destination: PIH Pocatello ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 7,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from BOI, 1 miles away
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.