# NTSB CHI79FEM20: Cessna 310, N639R, Traverse City, MI, May 6, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1979
- Place: Traverse City, MI · TRAVERSE CITY, MI
- Location: 44.7543° N, 85.6030° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Traverse City, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7543&lon=-85.6030&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135740
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEM20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEM20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1260   79/5/6    TRAVERSE CITY,MI    CESSNA 310          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 2808
        TIME - 2252                    N639R               PX-  0  0  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 170 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHERRY CAPITOL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHEBOYGAN,MI                CHEBOYGAN,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- ACFT 386LBS OVER MAX G/W AT TKOK & 156LBS OVER MAX LNDG WT AT TIME OF DITCHING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N639R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N639R-1991-03-29), registration cancelled 1991-03-29, S/N 35142 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310
- Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Cherry Capitol

## 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 19790506008659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790506008659A), May 6, 1979: Cessna 310, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot on IFR flight plan unable to land due to weather. Ditched airplane in bay after fuel exhaustion.

## Other investigations on N639R (1)

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.

- [NTSB UNK65X1458](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1458), Feb 26, 1965: Cessna Riley (N639R), Jacksonville, FL, substantial damage

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.