# NTSB CHI89LA001: Cessna 310Q, N8157Q, Tell City, IN, October 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1988, 00:50 local (05:50 UTC)
- Place: Tell City, IN
- Coordinates: 37.939556, -86.749847 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9396&lon=-86.7498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14292
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14292/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA001

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT FLEW A VOR APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND ON THE APPROACH RUNWAY. HE EXECUTED A CIRCLING VFR PATTERN TO LAND ON THE RECIPROCAL RUNWAY, THEN FLEW INTO THE GROUND FOG IN THE DESCENDING BASE TURN. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE WHILE IN THE TURN. THE PILOT HAD RECIEVED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEF OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND SAW PATCHY GROUND FOG PRIOR TO EXECUTING THE APPROACH. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD LEFT AT 0830 THE PREVIOUS DAY, FLOWN TO A FOOTBALL GAME, AND WERE RETURNING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0050 EST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8157Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8157Q-2002-04-29), registration cancelled 2002-04-29, S/N 310Q0628, built 1972 (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: 310Q0620
- Airframe hours: 2600
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Morgan Aviation, doing business as Morgan Aviation
- Registered owner: Morgan Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1988, 80 hours before
- Departed: LEX, LEXINGTON, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TEL, Perry County Airport, runway 13, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,846 total, 253 in this make and model, 2,563 as pilot in command, 187 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EVV, 19 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 19881002042829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881002042829A), Oct 2, 1988: Cessna 310Q, Tell City, IN, Destroyed. VOR approach circling to land. Entered dense fog on base leg. Struck trees.

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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