Cessna 402 accident near Montague, California, February 15, 2019
On February 15, 2019 at about 4:17 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 402, registered N5849C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Montague, California (Montague Airport-Yreka Rohrer). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing on a wet/icy runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 2019 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · Montague Airport-Yreka Rohrer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402 C, built 1979 · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N5849C · no longer on the register · serial 402C0052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach to the runway, the pilot extended full flaps and slowed the airplane to 85-90 knots. He applied the airplane brakes and noticed minor braking action with the left brake and no braking action with the right brake. The pilot retracted the flaps and applied full power to perform a go-around; however, he recognized there was not enough runway and/or airspeed to regain flight. The pilot then reduced the power to idle and applied heavy braking while attempting to maintain directional control. The airplane departed the end of the runway off the left side and came to rest about 100-150 yards into a dirt overrun area, substantially damaging the forward fuselage section. The runway was likely icy at the time of the landing due to rain the night before and sub-freezing temperatures overnight. The icy conditions would have resulted in a decreased braking performance and contributed to the runway excursion. Additionally, the operator reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: 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: 3,469.3 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 3,370.2 as pilot in command; 1,464 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,941.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 10, 2019; 34.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,210 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520--VB (piston); 1,441 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520VB (piston); 3,042 hours total
- Operator: Redding Aero Enterprises Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KMHR Rancho Cordova CA at 2:45 pm
- Runway 33, 3,360 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KSIY, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSIY 151553Z AUTO 13007KT 10SM SCT055 BKN070 BKN085 01/M02 A2968 RMK AO2 SLP069 T00111022=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.