# NTSB CHI04CA221: Cessna 310Q, N7940Q, Nappanee, IN, August 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2004, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Nappanee, IN - Coordinates: 41.446109, -85.934722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4461&lon=-85.9347&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59938/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA221 ## Probable cause The delay in the pilot's performance of an aborted takeoff. A factor was the reported restricted movement of the elevator. Additional factors were the rising easement and roadway the airplane went over before coming to rest in the farmers field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - flt control syst,elevator control - movement restricted (contributing factor) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during an aborted takeoff. The pilot's stated, "It was a perfect takeoff, until I reached 105 mph. I attempted to rotate the plane, but was unable to even lift the nose wheel off the ground. I tried again at 115 mph, but the plane was still unresponsive. After the 2nd failed rotation attempt, I immediately closed the throttles and applied heavy breaking. ... While I kept the plane straight, we went through a barb-wire fence, up over a road, down an easement and stopped in a farmer's field." ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2004, about 1830 central daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, N7940Q, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during an aborted takeoff from runway 27 at Nappanee Municipal Airport, near Nappanee, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An Instrument Flight Rules flight plan was on file. The pilot reported that he and his four passengers were uninjured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Griffing Sandusky Airport, near Sandusky, Ohio. The pilot said that he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane. The pilot's accident report stated: While taxing, I noticed there was about 300 feet of unusable sod at the end of he runway. I then held the brakes, applied full power, and started my takeoff roll. It was a perfect takeoff, until I reached 105 mph. I attempted to rotate the plane, but was unable to even lift the nose wheel off the ground. I tried again at 115 mph, but the plane was still unresponsive. After the 2nd failed rotation attempt, I immediately closed the throttles and applied heavy breaking. I threw off my headset and told all passengers to hold on. When I saw that I was going to be unable to stop the plane before hitting the fence, I told all passengers to brace themselves. While I kept the plane straight, we went through a barb-wire fence, up over a road, down an easement and stopped in a farmer's field. Upon hitting the easement, the right main landing gear collapsed. As soon as the plane came to a complete stop, I told [apassenger] to open the door now, and I told all the passengers to evacuate the plane immediately, meanwhile I closed the mixtures and shut down the master and magnetos, then exited the plane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7940Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7940Q-2012-07-19), registration cancelled 2012-07-19, S/N 310Q0623, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310Q - Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310Q0623 - Airframe hours: 14000 - Engines: Continental IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lazy Eight Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2004, 15 hours before - Departed: C03, Nappanee, IN - Destination: SKY, SANDUSKY, OH - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 27, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 710 total, 130 in this make and model, 620 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: GSH ## 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 20040810028059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040810028059A), Aug 10, 2004: Cessna 310Q, Nappanee, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he aborted takeoff at about 120MPH after pulling back on the yoke and the elevators would not respond. 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.