Accident Summary
A night VFR descent of a Cessna 402 carrying a pilot and two passengers ended in a high-speed impact with gradually rising terrain. The aircraft, recently acquired, was being flown by a pilot who held only a single-engine rating and was not qualified for multi-engine operations.
Flight Sequence
After picking up the aircraft in Florida, the pilot contacted Macon Flight Service Station (FSS) to check fuel availability and began descending. At approximately 5,300 feet mean sea level (MSL), the airplane entered a tight right turn and experienced rapid altitude changes: a descent of 2,600 feet over 37 seconds followed by a climb of 1,200 feet in 12 seconds. Control was not regained, and the airplane struck the ground.
Weather and Impact
The weather was reported as sky partially obscured with fog. Upon impact, the engines were buried, and all propeller blades showed evidence of power at the time of crash. There were no survivors; all three occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that the pilot lacked a multi-engine rating. A pilot from the selling company had flown with the accident pilot hours before the crash and noted difficulty handling the aircraft. He recommended additional training, but the accident pilot refused. The official probable cause was determined to be the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while descending at night. Associated factors included darkness, fog, the pilot's lack of multi-engine qualification, inexperience with the aircraft type, overconfidence, and spatial disorientation.