# NTSB CHI85FA053: Cessna 310N, N31747, Valparaiso, IN, November 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 1984, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Valparaiso, IN
- Coordinates: 41.469928, -87.050636 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4699&lon=-87.0506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12811/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA053

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command
  - gear extension - performed, pilot in command
  - lowering of flaps - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING AT 'TREE TOP LEVEL' WITH THE WINGS 'WAGGING'. ONE WITNESS REPORTED HEARING NO ENGINE SOUNDS. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN (OPEN FIELD) IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, APRX 100 FT SOUTH OF A HIGHWAY. LANDING GEAR WAS FOUND IN THE EXTENDED POSITION AND FLAPS WERE NEAR FULL DOWN. BOTH PROPS WERE FEATERED AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31747](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31747-2012-09-06), registration cancelled 2012-09-06, S/N 310N-0179, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310N
- Registry model: [Cessna 310N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310n) (registry code 2074234) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310N.0179
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-V 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: J. B.Hargrave, doing business as Cast Iron Pipe Specialty Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1983, 318 hours before
- Departed: JSO, JACKSONVILLE, TX
- Destination: VPZ, VALPARAISO, IN
- Airport: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,645 total, 333 in this make and model, 1,506 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: VPZ, 75 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 19841120062539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841120062539A), Nov 20, 1984: Cessna 310N, Valparaiso, IN, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Aircraft stalled while avoiding powerlines during emergency landing. Fuel exhaustion near airport.

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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