# NTSB ATL83FKJ04: Cessna 310, N8KD, Decatur, AL, May 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1983, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Decatur, AL
- Location: 34.6059° N, 86.9833° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Decatur, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6059&lon=-86.9833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FKJ04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FKJ04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER RETRACTING THE LANDING GEAR, THE LEFT ENGINE APPEARED TO QUIT. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED, HE ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR A ROW OF TREES. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER STRIKING THE TREES. INSPECTION OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED WATER IN THE GASCOLATOR AND IN BOTH SIDES OF THE FIELD INJECTOR DIAPHRAM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8KD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8KD-1990-03-13), registration cancelled 1990-03-13, S/N 35171 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310
- Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35171
- Airframe hours: 5296
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-A1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sam Enoch Pruett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1982, 90 hours before
- Destination: 81J, FT.WALTON BEACH, FL
- Airport: DCU, Pryor Field, runway 18, 5,096 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,620 total, 620 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: -0 °F

## 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 19830528021849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830528021849A), May 28, 1983: Cessna 310, Decatur, AL, Destroyed. Left engine quit due to fuel contamination after lift off. Aircraft crashed into trees and ground.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.