# NTSB ATL97LA031: Cessna 310Q, N7561Q, Selma, AL, December 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1996, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Selma, AL - Coordinates: 32.410114, -87.030281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4101&lon=-87.0303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3815/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA031 ## Probable cause The failure of maintenance personnel to correctly repair and install the pilot's seat. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - fuselage,seat - failure,partial (cause) - fuselage,seat - overload (cause) - maintenance,major repair - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) ## Analysis The pilot had elected to divert to Selma, Alabama after realizing his instrument charts were in the wing locker. While approximately 15 feet over the runway in a flared attitude, the pilot's seat back failed, leading him to lose control of the airplane and land hard. Subsequent examination of the seat showed it was incorrectly repaired and reassembled by a maintenance person, resulting in its eventual partial overload failure. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 1996, about 1530 central standard time, a Cessna 310Q, N7561Q, landed hard at the Craig Field Airport, Selma, Alabama. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight plan had been filed via radio, but had not been activated. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot nor his three passengers, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Montgomery, Alabama, about 1500, on the same day. The pilot reported that they had stopped at Montgomery for lunch. After departing Montgomery, he air-filed an instrument flight plan. Afterwards, he realized that his charts were all in a wing locker, therefore, he elected to land at Selma to retrieve them. He stated that once over the runway, about 15 feet above the pavement, as he flared, his seat back broke, followed by the hard landing. Subsequent examination of the seat back showed that it was assembled incorrectly which led to its failure on final approach. It was noted that the seat had been connected using a full thread bolt which caused excessive wear on the seat's attaching points. The correct bolt, washers, spacers, and nut should have been used as per the manufacturer's recommendations. It also appeared that a die grinder was used to remove the original seat weakening the metal in the seat frame. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7561Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310Q - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310Q0532 - Airframe hours: 2836 - Engines: Continental IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Saul Zadik - Registered owner: Summit Equity Management, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: MGM, MONTGOMERY, AL - Destination: 1M1, LITTLE ROCK, AR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SEM, Craig Field, runway 15, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,270 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MGM, 40 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 19961230041409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961230041409A), Dec 30, 1996: Cessna 310Q, Selma, AL, Substantial damage. Seat back broke short final causing hard landing. Seat was connected by improper bold. Grinder used remove original 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.