On November 7, 1968, a Cessna 402 (registration N8419F) operated by Jet Set Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Allentown-Lehigh Valley (Bethlehem-Easton), United States of America during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning; improperly loaded aircraft (weight and center of gravity); cargo shift during final approach causing pitch and lateral control problems; cargo net not used; aircraft center of gravity caused stall when power… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
On final approach to Allentown Airport, a twin-engine cargo airplane became unstable, entered a spin, and crashed short of the runway. The pilot was killed and the aircraft destroyed. The probable cause includes inadequate preflight, improper loading, and cargo shift.
Accident Details
A twin-engine cargo aircraft was on final approach to Allentown Airport during a night cargo flight. The airplane became unstable, entered a spin, and crashed short of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed, and the sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation identified the probable cause as a combination of several factors: inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning; improperly loaded aircraft, affecting weight and center of gravity; cargo shifting during final approach, leading to pitch and lateral control problems; witnesses reported that the cargo net was not used; and the aircraft's center of gravity caused a stall when power was reduced for an emergency landing.