# NTSB CEN11CA003: Cessna 310J, N3051L, St. Johns, MI, October 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 1, 2010, 10:16 local (14:16 UTC) - Place: St. Johns, MI - Coordinates: 43.064723, -84.489166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0647&lon=-84.4892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77488 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77488/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77488 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA003 ## Probable cause The failure by the pilot to attain/maintain a climb rate for undetermined reasons during a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2074226), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2074226), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 310J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2074226), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074226), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the flight was normal and he maneuvered the multi-engine airplane onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane yawed slightly to the right and the pilot attempted a go-around at about 100 feet above ground level. He noted that there was a lack of engine power from the right engine. The pilot arrested the descent with power from the left engine, but the airplane impacted terrain adjacent to the runway. A postaccident examination of the right engine was limited to verifying engine compression, which was confirmed to be normal. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the flight was normal until the airplane was established on final approach to runway 27 (2,509 feet by 50 feet, turf) at which point the airplane yawed slightly to the right. The pilot attempted a go-around about 100 feet above ground level, but there was a lack of engine power from the right engine. The pilot arrested the descent with power from the left engine, but the airplane impacted terrain at midfield and to the right of runway 27. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included wing spar damage and a bent fuselage aft of the cabin. Inspection of the right engine by the Federal Aviation Administration was limited to engine compression, which was confirmed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3051L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3051L-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 310J0051, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310J - Registry model: [Cessna 310J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310j) (registry code 2074226) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310J0051 - Airframe hours: 8419 - Engines: Continental IO-470-U 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2010 - Departed: JYM, Hillsdale, MI - Destination: 39T, St. Johns, MI - Airport: 39T, Tripp Creek Airport, runway 27, 2,509 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 999 total, 19 in this make and model, 943 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ALM, 16 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 20101001046559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101001046559A), Oct 1, 2010: Cessna 310J, Elsie, MI, Destroyed. Pilot stated that while on short final to runway 27 he elected to go around and return for landing. When he applied power to initiate the go around the right… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77488. 486 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.