# NTSB CEN18LA373: Cessna T310, N376J, Laramie, WY, September 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 6, 2018, 07:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Laramie, WY - Coordinates: 41.311943, -105.675 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3119&lon=-105.6750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98254/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98254 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA373 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly adjust the fuel/air mixtures, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing to a field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed in the multiengine airplane and climbed to cruise altitude. He began to lean the fuel mixture for cruise power and felt a vibration and fluttering. He then slowed the airplane, began to troubleshoot the problem and turned back toward the airport; but when he advanced the throttles to takeoff power, there was no response from engines. The pilot stated that the airplane was “losing altitude fast,” and he attempted to glide the airplane to the interstate for an emergency landing. Unable to reach the interstate, the pilot subsequently performed a gear-up, forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was distracted by the vibration and noise and he failed to enrichen the fuel mixtures after beginning the leaning procedure. He stated that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded the engines from producing full power, and that the vibration was the result of the engines running rough due to lack of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N376J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N376J-2019-12-20), registration cancelled 2019-12-20, S/N 310R-0668, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T310 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna T310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t310r) (registry code 2074246) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310R-0668 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5034 - Engines: Continental TSIO520BB 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO520BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: DBT Transportation Services LLC - Registered owner: DBT Transportation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2018 - Departed: KLAR, Laramie, WY - Destination: KGIC, Grangeville, ID - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAR - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 12,606 total, 6,916 in this make and model, 12,377 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: KLAR ## 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 20180906013209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180906013209A), Sep 6, 2018: Cessna T310R, Laramie, WY, Substantial damage. Departed klar runway 21 at 7:21 MDT, climbed on course to 8,500 MSL and leveled off. Set engines manifold pressure and RPM to cruise power. Began fuel mixture… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98254. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11703863&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN18LA373%20N376J%20C-T310R%20%206120%20completed%20w%20blocks%20for%20docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident site photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 444 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11703508&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Photo%20for%20Docket-Rel.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.