Cessna 402 N770CA

Summary

On 27 September 2008 at about 00:03 local time, a Cessna 402 registered N770CA, operated by Hyannis Air Service, was involved in an accident near Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 September 2008 at 00:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Martha's Vineyard (MVY)

Coordinates

41.4228, -70.6594

Aircraft

Cessna 402

Registration

N770CA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Hyannis Air Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vineyard Haven → Boston

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

NYC08FA324

1 person died.

A loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the multiengine airplane, operated by a regional airline, was conducting a positioning flight in night instrument meteorological conditions. After takeoff, the airplane made a slight left turn before making a right turn that continued until radar contact was lost. The airplane reached a maximum altitude of 700 feet before impacting terrain about 3 miles northwest of the departure airport. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact failures. The weather reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, included a visibility of 5 statute miles in light rain and mist and an overcast ceiling at 400 feet. Analysis of the radar and weather data indicated that, with the flight accelerating and turning just after having entered clouds, the pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.