# NTSB ATL00LA008: Cessna 310R, N7571Q, Columbus, GA, October 23, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1999, 20:30 local (Oct 23, 1999, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, GA
- Coordinates: 32.560329, -84.74002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5603&lon=-84.7400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA008

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare that resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)

## Analysis

The private pilot and flight instructor were performing night touch and go landings. Five landings were executed without incident and the private pilot requested to perform a short field landing for their sixth landing. During the landing, the airplane touched down hard on the right main gear. Examination of the airplane revealed right wing spar, strut, and skin damage. Neither pilot reported any mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On October 22, 1999, at approximately 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310R, N7571Q, damaged the right wing spar during landing at Columbus Metropolitan Airport in Columbus, Georgia. The instructional flight was conducted by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a military visual flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot, flight instructor, and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Maxwell, Alabama, at an undetermined time.

The private pilot and flight instructor were performing night touch and go landings. The flight was a final instruction flight before the private pilot was to take his commercial pilot multiengine land checkride. The flight instructor reported that five landings were executed without incident and the private pilot requested to perform a short field landing, in preparation for his checkride, for their sixth and final landing. During the landing, the airplane touched down hard on the right main gear. After the landing, the flight instructor took control of the airplane and taxied off the runway to the ramp.

Examination of the airplane revealed right wing spar, strut, and skin damage. Neither pilot reported any mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7571Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7571Q-2017-09-18), registration cancelled 2017-09-18, S/N 310R0068, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 310R
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R0068
- Airframe hours: 5884
- Engines: Continental IO-520-M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Maxwell Gunter Af Aero Club
- Registered owner: US Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 17, 1999, 67 hours before
- Departed: MXF, MAXWELL AFB, AL
- Destination: CSG
- Airport: CSG, Columbus Metropolitan, runway 23, 6,998 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 209 total, 26 in this make and model, 133 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSG

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19991022047319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991022047319A), Oct 22, 1999: Cessna 310R, Columbus, GA, Substantial damage. (.4) The private pilot and flight instructor were performing night touch and go landings. Five landings were executed without incident and the private pilot…

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.

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