# NTSB ATL95LA035: Cessna 310N, N4104Q, Covington, GA, January 10, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 1995, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Covington, GA - Location: 33.6054° N, 83.8466° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6054&lon=-83.8466&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3512/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA035 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - all engines - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING A FORCED LANDING INTO COVINGTON, GEORGIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS PILOT RATED PASSENGER HAD COMPLETED A FLIGHT FROM PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA, AND WERE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT COVINGTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT FOR A VISUAL APPROACH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER IN BOTH ENGINES, AS THE AIRCRAFT TURNED FROM THE BASE LEG TO FINAL. THE PILOTS HAD FLOWN DURING CRUISE WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS POSITION, AND HAD SWITCHED TO THE MAIN FUEL TANKS POSITION WHILE TURNING ONTO THE DOWNWIND LEG. LESS THAN 42 OUNCES OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT AUXILIARY TANK, AND LESS THAN ONE GALLON WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. THE MAIN TIP TANKS WERE FOUND TO HAVE 35 GALLONS EACH. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 1995, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310N, N4104Q, collided with the ground during the final landing approach to runway 10 at the Covington Municipal Airport, Covington, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, nor his pilot rated passenger. The airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Peachtree City, Georgia, about 1630, on the same day. The pilot reported that he returned to Peachtree City from a business flight and picked up his passenger. They flew to Griffin, Georgia, without landing, and then flew to Covington for practice landings. The right seat pilot was manipulating the flight controls. The flight from Griffin to Covington was made at 2500 feet, with the auxiliary fuel tanks selected. Upon arrival at the Covington Airport, the airplane crossed over the field, descended to pattern altitude and a turn to the downwind leg was begun. The fuel selectors were moved to the main tank position. An extended downwind was flown, because of an intervening airplane. While turning from the base to the final leg, the left engine quit. Seconds later, the right engine also quit. The left seat pilot took control of the airplane, and landed short of the runway. Upon impact, the left main landing gear was sheared off of the airplane. The aircraft skidded upslope to, and across the runway. No fuel was found in the left main fuel tank, which is the tip tank, because of ruptures to the underside of the tank. Less than 42 ounces of fuel was drained from the left auxiliary fuel tank, and less than one gallon of fuel was drained from the right auxiliary fuel tank. The main fuel line to each engine was opened and drained. Less than two tablespoons of fuel was obtained from each. The fuel pumps were engaged with the auxiliary tanks selected, and no fuel flowed to the engines. About 35 gallons of fuel remained in the right main fuel tank. Each engine was started and operated with fuel from the right main fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4104Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4104Q-2006-01-05), registration cancelled 2006-01-05, S/N 310N-0004, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310N - Registry model: [Cessna 310N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310n) (registry code 2074234) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310N-0004 - Airframe hours: 3015 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gielow, Harold R. - Registered owner: Plane Enjoyment - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 1994, 55 hours before - Departed: FFC, PEACHTREE CITY, GA - Airport: 9A1, Covington, runway 10, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,211 total, 142 in this make and model, 1,410 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 25 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 19950110000269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950110000269A), Jan 10, 1995: Cessna 310N, Covington, GA, Substantial damage. Lost both engines on final for right seat pilot practice. Took over. Impacted short. Only one main tank had fuel. 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.