# NTSB CHI03LA046: Cessna 310R, N37221, Ada, MN, January 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 4, 2003, 20:47 local (Jan 5, 2003, 02:47 UTC) - Place: Ada, MN - Coordinates: 47.289508, -96.510002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2895&lon=-96.5100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56313 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56313/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56313 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. A low ceiling was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - minimum descent altitude - below, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a non-precision instrument approach to land in instrument meteorological conditions, which had variable ceilings below published minimums based upon the closest weather reporting station 27 nautical miles southwest of the airport. The pilot stated he was engrossed in maintaining airspeed, and the passenger reported the pilot was too busy looking for the runway. The pilot further reported the accident could have been avoided if he had landed at his alternate airport. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2003, at 2047 central standard time, a Cessna 310R, N37221, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain during a GPS approach to runway 33 at Norman County Ada-Twin Valley Airport (D00), Ada, Minnesota. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. The pilot received serious injuries, the right front seat passenger was uninjured, and the rear seat pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field Airport, Spearfish, South Dakota, at 1730 mountain standard time. The pilot reported the aircraft entered icing conditions. The pilot indicated he was "engrossed in maintaining blue line airspeed." The passenger occupying the rear seat, who was a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported the anti-icing boots along the leading edges of the wings were working. The passenger further stated the pilot was, "too busy looking for the runway." The passenger reported observing the altitude of the aircraft as 1,000-1,300 feet above sea level prior to impact with terrain. The passenger further noted he "was getting ready to say something to the pilot prior to impacting." The weather observation facility at Fargo, North Dakota, 27 nautical miles southwest of the accident site reported the weather at 2053 as: winds 320 degrees at 10 knots, 6 statute miles visibility in mist, overcast ceiling at 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL), temperature -3 degrees Celsius (C), dew point -4 degrees C, altimeter 29.98 inches of mercury, ceiling variable from 500 feet AGL to 1300 feet AGL. The pilot reported that this accident could have been avoided if he had landed at his alternate airport, Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37221](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37221-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 310R0961, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310R - 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: 310R0961 - Airframe hours: 3100 - Engines: Continental TSTO520EB 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-EB 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2002, 40 hours before - Departed: SPF, Spearfish, SD - Destination: D00, Ada, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: D00, Twin Valley Airport, runway 33, 3,103 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 970 total, 336 in this make and model, 811 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 27 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 20030104000199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030104000199A), Jan 4, 2003: Cessna T310R, Ada/Twin Valley, MN, Destroyed. (-23) Investigation is ongoing. Sections 21A, 29, 31, 32, 39, 42, 43 will be amended as information becomes available. (-23 amendment) aircraft N37221 was… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56313. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 434 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - ADA GPS 33 Approach Chart (item 4, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40187814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ADA%20GPS%2033%20Approach%20Chart-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 5, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40187815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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. --- 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.