# NTSB BFO95LA027: Cessna 310Q, N7943Q, Clarion, PA, January 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 16, 1995, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Clarion, PA - Coordinates: 41.210895, -79.380912 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2109&lon=-79.3809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9026/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=9026 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA027 ## Probable cause The failure of the right wing de-ice boot during operation in conditions of ice accumulation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft controllability during the approach/landing. The icing condition was a factor. ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 9000 FEET MSL WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS, AND ICE BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE ON THE WING LEADING EDGES. THE PILOT RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO A LOWER ALTITUDE, BUT THE ICE CONTINUED TO ACCUMULATE. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE ACTIVATED THE DE-ICE BOOTS THE RIGHT WING DE-ICE BOOT DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT 12 NAUTICAL MILES AWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE SLOWED FOR LANDING, THE ASYMMETRICAL ICE ON THE WINGS RESULTED IN AN UNSTABLE APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND POSTIMPACT FIRES OCCURRED ON BOTH WINGS. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT DE-ICE BOOTS WERE CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION, BUT FIRE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING PRECLUDED FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE RIGHT WING DE-ICE BOOT. ## Factual narrative On January 16, 1995, at 0915 eastern standard time, N7943Q, a Cessna 310Q, operated by Gordon Air Management of North Canton, Ohio, crashed at Clarion County Airport, Clarion, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the three passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The departure point was Akron, Ohio. The destination was Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 9000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) when the airplane encountered icing conditions. He stated that light ice started to accumulate on the leading edges of the airplane. The pilot reported that he requested a lower altitude, and descended to 7,000 feet MSL, but the ice continued to accumulate. The pilot stated that when he activated the de-ice boots the right wing boot did not activate. He stated that he received clearance to a lower altitude, but the ice build up on the right wing made it difficult to maintain control. A forced landing was made at the closest airport 12 miles away. During the forced landing the right wing tip struck the runway and small fires erupted in both wings. One of the passengers on the airplane reported to the State Police that a considerable amount of ice had built up on the airplane, and that the airplane became very unstable. The FAA Aviation Safety Inspector examined the airplane after the accident and reported that the airplane had sustained fire damage to both wings. The left de-icing boot was tested and functioned with no anomalies noted, but due to the fire damage to the right wing the de-ice boot for the right wing could not be tested. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - anti-ice/deice system,wing - malfunction (cause) - flight to new destination - performed, pilot in command - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - wing - ice (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7943Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7943Q-1996-10-16), registration cancelled 1996-10-16, S/N 310Q0669 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310Q - Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310Q-0669 - Airframe hours: 8618 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gordon Air Management - Registered owner: James Cohen/Jerry Sanders - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1994, 81 hours before - Departed: CAK, AKRON, OH - Destination: LNS, LANCASTER, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 11D, Clarion County, runway 6, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DUJ, 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 19950116000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950116000369A), Jan 16, 1995: Cessna 310Q, Clarion, PA, Destroyed. Encountered icing. Tried alternate airport. Right wing stalled due inop deice boot. Impacted wing low. Cartwheeled. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=9026. 510 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Narrative (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Narrative-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 3, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028426&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.