# Accident 19970207001349A: Cessna T310Q, Santa Monica, CA, February 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 7, 1997, 17:13 local time
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Airport: Santa Monica Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0299° N, 118.4297° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0299&lon=-118.4297&mi=10
- Aircraft: N10ML, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10ML-2017-03-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna T310Q (registry code 2074244, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t310q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T310Q
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,652 total, 145 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA097) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970207001349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FUEL STARVATION ON MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. STRUCK TREES LANDING. (.4) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, BEFORE DEPARTURE FOR THE MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT HE HAD DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE AT LEAST 1/2 FULL OF FUEL AND THE AUXILIARY TANKS WERE COMPLETELY FULL.  THE PILOT ALLOWED ANOTHER PILOT TO FLY FROM THE LEFT SEAT WHILE HE OCCUPIED THE RIGHT SEAT.  AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR THE PILOTS APPROACHED THEIR DESTINATION.  THE FLYING PILOT ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG AND EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF LEFT ENGINE POWER.  THE RIGHT SEATED PILOT TOOK THE CONTROLS AND TURNED TOWARD THE AIRPORT; HOWEVER WITHIN SECONDS THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE RIGHT SEATED PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A NEARBY GOLF COURSE.  DURING THE LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES.  THE RIGHT FUEL TANK FRAGMENTED FROM THE WING, AND WITNESSES REPORTED EVIDENCE OF A FUEL ODOR ALONG THE WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION PATH.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING INTACT FUEL TANKS REVEALED THE AUXILIARY TANKS WERE ABOUT 1/3 FULL, AND THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS COMPLETELY DRY.  BOTH OF THE COCKPIT FUEL SELECTORS WERE OBSERVED SET TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK POSITION.  ACCORDING TO THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, IN THE EV ENT OF AN ENGINE FAILURE THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE HANDLES SHOULD BE TURNED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE TANK FOR EACH ENGINE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA097), Feb 8, 1997: Cessna 310Q (N10ML), Los Angeles, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's improper fuel tank selector position and failure to perform correct emergency procedures.

## Other reports on N10ML (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900910048289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900910048289I), Sep 10, 1990: Cessna T310Q (N10ML), Las Vegas, NV, Minor damage. Unable to lower nose gear. Landed on main gear. Skidded to a stop. Rod end and bell assembly failed.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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