HYANNIS, MA, USA
N49PB
CESSNA 402B
NINE MEMBERS OF A VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM BOARDED THE ACFT W/O THE PLT GETTING ACCURATE PASSENGER WEIGHTS & THE BAGGAGE WAS PLACED IN THE AFT BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. AS THE PLT ENTERED THE CABIN & WAS CLOSING THE DOOR, THE TAIL OF THE ACFT FELL HARD TO THE RAMP. THE PLT RAISED THE TAIL & ELECTED TO CONT THE FLT. AFTER REBOARDING, HE TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY & BEGAN THE TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 200 TO 400 FT AGL, THE PLT ANNOUNCED THERE WAS A PROBLEM & ASKED THE PASSENGERS TO MOVE FORWARD. AT THAT TIME, THE NOSE OF THE ACFT WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL & THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PASSENGERS MOVED AS FAR FORWARD AS FEASIBLE & STAYED THERE UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT WAS LANDED. A POST-FLT EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED A STRINGER, REAR BULKHEAD, ELEVATOR CONTROL TUBE & THE HOUSING FOR THE TAIL NAVIGATION LIGHT WERE DAMAGED. NO BALLAST WAS INSTALLED IN THE FORWARD BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. A RECALCULATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WEIGHT & BALANCE, USING THE ACTUAL WEIGHTS OF THE PASSENGERS, REVEALED THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG) WAS BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT.
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN IMPROPER WEIGHT AND BALANCE (AFT CG). THE AFT CG ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNCOMMANDED ALTITUDE DEVIATION AFTER TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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