# NTSB ATL92FA091: Cessna 310R, N3221M, Gatlinburg, TN, April 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1992, 13:53 local (17:53 UTC)
- Place: Gatlinburg, TN
- Coordinates: 35.720333, -83.489418 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7203&lon=-83.4894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8504/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA091

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE OVER HIGH, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH TERRAIN, AND THE FOG, CLOUDS, AND OBSCURATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise

## Analysis

THE INSTRUMENT-RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS MAKING A PERSONAL, CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.  THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED, NOR WERE THERE ANY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN NEAR CLINGMANS DOME, TN, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 5,800 FEET.  THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED UPHILL, AND DAMAGE TO TREES WAS INDICATIVE OF A CLIMBING, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AT IMPACT.  NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.  A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CAP SQUADRON REPORTED THAT THE AREA OF THE CRASH SITE WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS AND FOG AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3221M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3221M-1995-05-01), registration cancelled 1995-05-01, S/N 310R1879 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R1879
- Airframe hours: 2576
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-MB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cff Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Cff Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 1991, 200 hours before
- Departed: 6A0, CARTERSVILLE, GA
- Destination: GCY, GREENEVILLE, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 768 total, 85 in this make and model, 208 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 28 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 19920426012169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920426012169A), Apr 26, 1992: Cessna 310R, Gatlinburg, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck mountainside level flight. Low ceiling,snow,rain and sleet in area,no record weather check. No flight plan.

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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