# NTSB CEN15CA130: Cessna 310B, N131X, Rothville, MO, January 28, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 28, 2015, 03:00 local (09:00 UTC)
- Place: Rothville, MO
- Coordinates: 39.630279, -93.01889
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6303&lon=-93.0189&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Kansas City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90665/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90665
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA130

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and fuel management which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was at 8,000 feet mean sea level when it ran out of fuel. He executed a forced landing to a field which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was at 8,000 feet mean sea level when it ran out of fuel. He executed a forced landing to a field which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N131X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N131X-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 35239, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310B
- Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35239
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 5798
- Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tommy Lee Kirk
- Registered owner: Pending
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2014
- Departed: JDD, Quitman, TX
- Destination: Unknown, MO
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 398 total, 92 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: IRK

## 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 20150128001289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150128001289A), Jan 28, 2015: Cessna 310, Rothville, MO, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed tyler, Texas (kjdd) at approximately 2230 local time on January 27, 2015 with destination of pittsburg, PA. At approximately 0400 local time…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90665. 3.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.

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