# NTSB ATL94LA045: Cessna 310R, N3844C, Memphis, TN, January 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 1994, 21:30 local (Jan 28, 1994, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Memphis, TN - Location: 35.0424° N, 89.9767° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FREDERICK W SMITH INTL/MEMPHIS (MEM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0424&lon=-89.9767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3344/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA045 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N2069C TO FOLLOW THE ATC DIRECTIVE TO GIVE WAY TO N3844C, AND THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF N2069C. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N2069C TO FOLLOW THE ATC DIRECTIVE TO GIVE WAY TO N3844C, AND THE INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF N2069C. A FACTOR WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - aircraft moving on ground - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - aircraft moving on ground - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) N3844C (A CESSNA 310R) LANDED ON RUNWAY 36R AT MEM, AS N2069C (A BEECH E18S) WAS TAXIING FROM THE UPS RAMP TO THE AMR COMBS SOUTH RAMP. THE CESSNA STAYED WITH MEM TOWER AFTER CLEAR OF RUNWAY 36R, AND WAS CLEARED TO TAXI TO THE AMR COMBS SOUTH RAMP. MEM GROUND, WHO WAS WORKING THE BEECH 18, DIRECTED THE BEECH TO GIVE WAY TO THE CESSNA, AS THEY WERE NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE CESSNA. THE BEECH 18 PILOT SAW THE CESSNA, WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS TAXIING TO THE AMR COMBS NORTH RAMP. ACCORDING TO TWO MARSHALLERS ON THE RAMP AND THE CESSNA PILOT, THE BEECH 18 COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM THE LEFT, REAR SIDE. THE MARSHALLERS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE BEECH 18 HAD ONLY THE STROBE LIGHT ON WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED; THE POSITION AND TAXI LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE BEECH 18 PILOT REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE CESSNA WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) N3844C (A CESSNA 310R) LANDED ON RUNWAY 36R AT MEM, AS N2069C (A BEECH E18S) WAS TAXIING FROM THE UPS RAMP TO THE AMR COMBS SOUTH RAMP. THE CESSNA STAYED WITH MEM TOWER AFTER CLEAR OF RUNWAY 36R, AND WAS CLEARED TO TAXI TO THE AMR COMBS SOUTH RAMP. MEM GROUND, WHO WAS WORKING THE BEECH 18, DIRECTED THE BEECH TO GIVE WAY TO THE CESSNA, AS THEY WERE NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE CESSNA. THE BEECH 18 PILOT SAW THE CESSNA, WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS TAXIING TO THE AMR COMBS NORTH RAMP. ACCORDING TO TWO MARSHALLERS ON THE RAMP AND THE CESSNA PILOT, THE BEECH 18 COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM THE LEFT, REAR SIDE. THE MARSHALLERS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE BEECH 18 HAD ONLY THE STROBE LIGHT ON WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED; THE POSITION AND TAXI LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE BEECH 18 PILOT REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE CESSNA WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See NTSB Report ATL-94-L-A045A for narrative. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On January 27, 1994, at 2130 central standard time, a Cessna 310R, N3844C, and a Beech E18S, N2069C, collided while taxiing at the Memphis International Airport in Memphis, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot of N3844C and the commercial pilot of N2069C were not injured. There was substantial damage to N3844C; the damage to N2069C was minor. N3844C was operated by RAS, Inc., and N2069C was operated by Springdale Air Service, Inc. N3844C was operating under 14 CFR Part 135 at the time of the accident, while N2069C was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Night, visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The flight of N3844C originated in Meridian, Mississippi, at 2020. N2069C was repositioning on the airfield after unloading cargo. The pilot of the Cessna 310R, N3844C, reported the following: He requested to land long on Runway 36, which was approved by Memphis Tower. After landing, he was instructed to taxi to the end of the runway, then taxi to the ramp (AMR Combs Ramp), while remaining on the tower frequency. He taxied clear of the runway and proceeded toward the AMR South ramp. He observed a Beech Baron coming out of the ramp area, and turned slightly to the right. He then slowed the aircraft and began looking for a ramp lineman. As he was taxiing into the ramp area, he felt the aircraft shake, and heard a loud noise. He turned around and saw the Beech 18 (N2069C) at his 7 to 8 o'clock position. The pilot of the Beech E18S, N2069C, reported the following: After unloading cargo, he called Memphis Ground Control and requested to taxi from the United Parcel Service Ramp to AMR Combs South Ramp. He was cleared to reposition as requested. While taxiing north on Taxiway Charley, he observed a Cessna 310 on landing roll, runway 36. The ground controller then directed him to give way to the Cessna 310, and that the ground controller was not talking to him (The Cessna 310). He then stopped and waited while the Cessna exited the runway. He then observed the Cessna taxi to the north, as if he was going to the AMR North ramp. When he thought the Cessna was taxiing to the north of his position, he turned west and proceeded into the AMR South ramp area. He observed a marshaller directly in front of him, who waved him to the north, and another marshaller began running northward across the ramp. He then turned about 45 degrees to the right, and slowed his taxi speed to allow the second marshaller to reach his parking spot. As the marshaller set up to direct him in, the Cessna "taxied through my right prop, striking the left wing tip." One of the two AMR Combs marshallers reported that the Cessna was taxiing toward him at 3 to 5 miles per hour, when the Beech 18 hit the Cessna about 30 feet short of the ramp, while still on Taxiway Charley. The impact was to the left wing, and the left horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna. He stated that he did not see the Beech until the moment of impact, because the Beech "didn't have any lights on." After the impact, the Cessna continued toward him and was parked, while the Beech stopped at the location of impact. The other marshaller saw the Cessna coming from the far runway, and thought that it was the Beech 18. She reported that "The Beech 18 just kept going into the back of it (the Cessna)." She reported that the Beech did not have any external lights on, only the strobe light, and that she did not see him (the Beech) until it was too late. The pilot of the Beech E18S reported to an airport policeman that he did not see the Cessna just prior to the impact. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N3844C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3844C), registered now, S/N 310R1238 (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: 310R1238 - Airframe hours: 7516 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M1 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Ras, Inc. - Registered owner: Jim Ratliff Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 11, 1993, 36 hours before - Departed: MEI, MERIDIAN, MS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MEM, Memphis International, runway 36R, 8,400 × 150 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N2069C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2069C), registered now, S/N BA-430, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E18S - Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-430 - Airframe hours: 12889 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Springdale Air Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Springdale Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1993, 99 hours before - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MEM, Memphis International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3844C; age 30; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,940 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,550 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N2069C; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,100 total, 800 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940127002162A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940127002162A), Jan 27, 1994: Cessna 310R, Memphis, TN, Substantial damage. On taxiing to ramp was struck in rear by aircraft on local taxi. Tower control, other on ground control. Strobes on - [Accident 19940127002161A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940127002161A), Jan 27, 1994: Beech E18S, Memphis, TN, Minor damage. Landed on runway and taxiing to ramp, when hit aircraft on left side that was taxiing to ramp on tower control. ## Other investigations on N3844C (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA23LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA154), Dec 15, 2022: Cessna 310R (N3844C), Lexington, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: A main landing gear collapse due to a landing gear actuator overtravel for reasons that could not be determined. 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.