# NTSB ATL95FA173: Cessna 310P, N5926M, Lexington, MS, September 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1995, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Lexington, MS - Coordinates: 33.109844, -90.039146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1098&lon=-90.0391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95FA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3487/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95FA173 ## Probable cause the non-instrument rated pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft. The weather was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis Witnesses stated that they observed the aircraft as it came out of the base of the clouds. The aircraft was in a right bank, nose down attitude as it descended out of the clouds, and maintained that attitude until impact with the terrain. They also stated that the weather in the area at the time was about 200 feet overcast. The pilot's son reported that his father was not proficient in the aircraft, and relied on the autopilot to fly the aircraft. He also said that his father had open heart surgery in 1978, and again in 1990, and could not obtain an FAA Medical Certificate. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 24, 1995, about 0940 central daylight time, a Cessna 310P, N5926M, collided with the ground during an uncontrolled descent near Lexington, Mississippi. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The private, non-instrument rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. Origination of the flight was the C.A. Moore Airport, Lexington, Mississippi, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. Witnesses in the area reported seeing the aircraft descend out of the base of the clouds heading in an easterly direction. They reported that the aircraft was at about 200 feet above ground level, in a right bank, and descending, at the time they observed the aircraft. The aircraft continued the right turn, and descent into the terrain. After the aircraft impacted the terrain, there was an intense post crash fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single and multiengine ratings. His third class medical, issued on January 10, 1989, had expired. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed that he had accumulated 3,600 hours of flight time. No pilot records for the pilot were found. The pilot's son reported that his father was not competent to fly the aircraft, and relied on the aircraft autopilot to fly the aircraft. He stated that his father had open heart surgery in 1978, and again in 1990, and that he could not obtain an FAA medical certificate. He said that his father had reported to him that he had vertigo during the flight into Lexington a couple of weeks prior, and that he was going to take the aircraft back to Dallas, and sell it. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Cessna 310P is a twin engine, low wing, retractable gear airplane. No records for the aircraft could be located following the accident. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Instrument meteorological conditions existed at Greensboro, Mississippi at the time of the accident, and witnesses near the accident site reported that the ceilings in the area were about 200 feet above ground level. Additional meteorological information may be obtained on page 4 of this report. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft impacted the terrain in a field near Lexington, Mississippi. There was an intense post crash fire, and most of the aircraft was consumed in the fire. The aircraft engines were involved in the post crash fire. All of the engine accessories were consumed in the fire. There was no evidence of pre-impact failure of the engines. The aircraft propellers showed signs of "S" bending and twisting towards low pitch. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Dr. Steven T. Hayne of Brandon, Mississippi. Dr. Hayne reported that the pilot died as a result of blunt force trauma received in the accident. A Toxicological examination of the pilot was conducted by the Department of Defense Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC. The report was negative for the use of ethanol. The report stated that 0.15 milligrams per kilogram of ephedrine was found in the kidney. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was released to Sergeant Willie Rule, of the Holmes County, Mississippi Sheriffs Office on September 26, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5926M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5926M-1995-11-17), registration cancelled 1995-11-17, S/N 310P0226 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310P - Registry model: [Cessna 310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310p) (registry code 2074238) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310P0226 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert A Hammett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 19M - Destination: UNK, DALLAS, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GWO, 20 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 19950924029969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950924029969A), Sep 24, 1995: Cessna 310P, Lexington, MS, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR pilot lost control departing into IFR weather. History of cardiac problems unable medical. Not competent. 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.