19970227001889A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 310R · Calhoun, GA · February 27, 1997

Date: February 27, 1997 · 02:50 local
Place: Calhoun, GA
Airport: Tom B David Field Airport
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N72GL
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA97LA087
Reported as: Cessna 310R
Reported engine: Continental IO520M
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,784 total734 in this make and model263 in the last 90 days

N72GLRegistration cancelled Apr 25, 2000 · Cessna 310RS/N 310R0155 Airframe modelCessna 310R

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Failed update weather missed three approachs at alternate, held then tried another. Missed again. Ran out of fuel. (-23) collision with terrain as a result of fuel starvation. Low IFR weather was a factor (crew made 4 unsuccessful instrument approaches), as was improper company procedure/crew practice re. Designation of IFR alternate destination airports.

As the FAA filed it

FAILED UPDATE WEATHER MISSED THREE APPROACHS AT ALTERNATE, HELD THEN TRIED ANOTHER. MISSED AGAIN. RAN OUT OF FUEL. (-23) COLLISION WITH TERRAIN AS A RESULT OF FUEL STARVATION. LOW IFR WEATHER WAS A FACTOR (CREW MADE 4 UNSUCCESSFUL INSTRUMENT APPROACHES), AS WAS IMPROPER COMPANY PROCEDURE/CREW PRACTICE RE. DESIGNATION OF IFR ALTERNATE DESTINATION AIRPORTS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA97LA087Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCalhoun, GAThe pilot-in-command's improper fuel management and improper positioning of the fuel selector valve to the empty fuel tank. Factors in the accident were: the PIC's improper in-flight planning and decision, his failure to list an alternate airport, and his…Feb 27, 1997 · Destroyed