# NTSB BFO93FA003: Cessna 310R, N711RG, Summersville, WV, November 8, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1992, 06:20 local (11:20 UTC)
- Place: Summersville, WV
- Coordinates: 38.280933, -80.840606 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2809&lon=-80.8406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93FA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93FA003

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) FROM MOUNTAINOUS HILLY TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DARKNESS, LOW CLOUDS, AND LIGHT SNOW.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AS THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROACHING THE (FLIGHT PLANNED) DESTINATION AT NIGHT, THE PILOT INDICATED HE WOULD LAND FROM A VISUAL APPROACH.  HE CANCELED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN ABOUT 5 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AND BEGAN A DESCENT. RADAR DATA WAS LOST AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT ON AN EAST SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING AND HAD DESCENDED TO ABOUT 3000 FT MSL.  IT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3000 FT, AFTER TRAVELING AN ADDITIONAL 3 1/2 MILES.  THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT.  THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN OVER A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 512 FT THROUGH TREES ON A HEADING OF 122 DEGREES. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED AND THE GEAR WAS STOWED.  NO AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES WERE NOTED.  ALL OF THE PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED TORSIONAL DAMAGE.  A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PILOT DID NOT REVEAL ANY MEDICAL PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.  LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING AND LOW CLOUDS WERE IN THE AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N711RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711RG-1998-04-09), registration cancelled 1998-04-09, S/N 310R0184 (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: 310R0184
- Airframe hours: 3997
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Rader Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Rader Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1992, 50 hours before
- Departed: HTS, HUNTINGTON, WV
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 30,000 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BKW, 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 19921108045779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921108045779A), Nov 8, 1992: Cessna 310R, Summersville, WV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed into trees on mountain. Radar tract shows descent with increasing speed prior impact.

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.