# NTSB CHI88FA080: Cessna 310Q, N7797Q, Servia, IN, March 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1988, 09:38 local (14:38 UTC)
- Place: Servia, IN
- Location: 40.9552° N, 85.7371° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Servia, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9552&lon=-85.7371&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA080

## Probable cause

THE PILOT INDUCED OVERLOAD TO THE AIRPLANE STRUCTURE CAUSING MATERIAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE. ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER, AND SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT, ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, unknown
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WITNESS'S REPORT A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING IN THE AREA WHEN THEY OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT BREAK UP IN FLIGHT. ALL WITNESSES REPORT HEARING UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISES WHICH THEY CHARACTERIZED AS DIVING SOUNDS, AND OBSERVING PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT BREAK AWAY AS IT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE CANADIAN CITIZEN WHO WAS ACTING AS PILOT OF THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR FLIGHT EITHER BY HIS OWN GOVERNMENT OR BY THE UNITED STATES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7797Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7797Q-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 310Q0407, built 1971 (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: 407
- Airframe hours: 4539
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-E 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jay T. Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1987, 19 hours before
- Departed: W74, HAVELOCK, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,975 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19880324006409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880324006409A), Mar 24, 1988: Cessna 310Q, Servia, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. No current pilot license, no medical, not rated in type. Flew into thunderstorm and aircraft came apart in flight.

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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