# NTSB ATL89FAMS3: Cessna 310Q, N6269Q, Cleveland, OH, February 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1989, 00:45 local (05:45 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, OH
- Location: 41.4995° N, 81.6954° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cleveland, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4995&lon=-81.6954&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7923
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FAMS3
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7923/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FAMS3

## Probable cause

AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO THE WATER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD DIVERTED INTO CLEVELAND HOPKINS AIRPORT WHEN THE WEATHER AT THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF BURKE LAKEFRONT WORSENED TO BELOW LANDING MINIMUMS. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE GROUND AT CLE AND AFTER A TELEPHONE CALL TO THE COMPANY DISPATCHER THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY THE AIR CARGO TO BKL. AFTER DEPARTING CLE, THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PILOT'S BODY WAS RECOVERED FROM LAKE ERIE ON JULY 10, 1989. IT WAS REPORTED THAT A SNOW STORM WAS IN PROGRESS IN THE AREA WHERE RADIO AND RADIO CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST AT THE TIME OF THE DISAPPEARANCE. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6269Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6269Q-1990-03-19), registration cancelled 1990-03-19, S/N 310Q0527 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310Q0527
- Airframe hours: 4692
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-V 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Bowman Aviation
- Registered owner: Ed Foss
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 1989
- Departed: CLE, CLEVELAND, OH
- Destination: BKL, CLEVELAND, OH
- Airport: BKL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,800 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 5,850 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 25 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BKL, 5 nm away

## 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 19890209041069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890209041069A), Feb 9, 1989: Cessna 310Q, Cleveland, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates pilot flew into heavy snow shower at night over lake on VFR vectors. Crashed into lake.

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.