# NTSB CHI85MA169: Cessna 310R, N1334G, St James, MI, April 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1985, 22:14 local (Apr 20, 1985, 03:14 UTC)
- Place: St James, MI
- Coordinates: 45.650566, -85.549255 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6506&lon=-85.5493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13224
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85MA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13224/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85MA169

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING A NIGHT ARRIVAL, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT & CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN. A WITNESS SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE ACFT AS IT CIRCLED THE DESTINATION ARPT. HE REPORTED THE ACFT HAD TURNED LEFT TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING, & SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE SAW A FLASH OF LIGHT. THE WITNESS WENT TO THE ARPT & OBSERVED THAT THE ARPT LIGHTING WAS ON. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO GROUND FOG & HE COULD SEE STARS OVERHEAD. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, BUT THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 0950 EST THE NEXT MORNING. THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 3000 FT SOUTHWEST OF THE WEST END OF RWY 9/27, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A 70 FT TREE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 690 FT MSL WHILE THE ACFT WAS ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 670 FT MSL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. APRX 32 MI EAST AT PELLSTON, MI, THE 2150 EST WX WAS, IN PART: 5000 FT SCATTERED, 10,000 FT BROKEN, VISIBILITY 4 MI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1334G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R0018
- Airframe hours: 2800
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: S. M. Zonneblet
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 21, 1985, 46 hours before
- Departed: C19, HOLLAND, MI
- Destination: SJX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SJX, Beaver Island

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 700 total, 250 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PLN, 32 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 19850419015819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850419015819A), Apr 19, 1985: Cessna 310R, St James, MI, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Descended into trees while circling Island airport at a low altitude on a dark night. Impacted ground and burned.

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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