# NTSB CHI84LA059: Cessna 310, N37252, Brainerd, MN, December 13, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1983, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Brainerd, MN
- Coordinates: 46.349777, -94.189819 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3498&lon=-94.1898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12504/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA059

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER MAKING A VOR/DME APCH, THE PLT CIRCLED TO LAND ON RWY 23 IN WX CONDITIONS OF LIGHT SNOW & FOG. THE TERRAIN & RWY WERE COVERED WITH SNOW. THE PLT TRIED TO CONTACT BRAINERD UNICOM TO HAVE THE RWY LIGHTS TURNED UP, BUT HE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. HE COULD HAVE ACTIVATED THE RWY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS MICROPHONE, USING THE UNICOM FREQ, BUT HE DID NOT DO SO. WHEN ON FINAL APCH, HE SAW A ROW OF LIGHTS & BELIEVED THE ACFT WAS ALIGNED WITH THE RWY. HOWEVER, HE HAD ALIGNED THE ACFT BETWEEN THE RWY & TAXIWAY, WHERE HE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED IN 14 INCHES OF SNOW & DAMAGED THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N37252 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R1201
- Airframe hours: 1685
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aberdeen Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 20, 1983, 85 hours before
- Departed: ABR, ABERDEEN, SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BRD, Crow Wing Co., runway 23, 6,500 × 100 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,230 total, 2,039 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BRD

## 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 19831213070029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831213070029A), Dec 13, 1983: Cessna 310R, Brainerd, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot made circling approach and made landing along side of runway. Snow and low ceiling were factors.

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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