CHI95LA199

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 310L · Crawfordsville, IN · June 24, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 24, 1995, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC)
Place
Crawfordsville, IN
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3298XCessna 310L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 24, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950624014899A
Case key
9926

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during final approach to landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's delayed action of aborting the landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skidLanding - flare/touchdown
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Abort - delayedPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The pilot took off with the intention of remaining in the airport traffic pattern to practice three takeoffs and landings. The pilot stated that he decided to practice a power off landing first. During the first landing the pilot had to add power to make it to the runway. During the second landing, the pilot stated he flew a tighter pattern. While on final approach, he had to realign the airplane with the runway. At this point, the airspeed dropped rapidly and he decided to perform a go around. The pilot stated the left wing impacted the runway, but he had to continue with the go around due to traffic. The pilot stated a third pattern was done using normal procedures and he landed the airplane with no further incident.

Factual narrative

On June 24, 1995, at 1940 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310L, N3298X, registered to the Engineering & Design Services, Inc., of West Layfayette, Indiana, was substantially damaged while landing at Crawfordsville Municipal Airport, Crawfordsville, Indiana. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported the flight was to be a proficiency flight. His intention was to stay in the airport traffic pattern and practice three takeoffs and landings. For his first landing, the pilot stated he decided to practice a power off landing. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he pulled both throttles to the idle position. "First landing was firm but decent, only I had to bring power in momentary on the base to make the runway," the pilot stated. The second pattern, he stated, was done without any addition of power, but he had to "...close in on the runway in order to make the runway... ." While on final to land, the pilot stated that he had to realign the airplane with the runway. He stated that at this point the airspeed dropped quickly, and he realized a "bad" situation. The pilot decided to perform a go around. "Abort was to late and I contacted the ground and dragged the left wing - abort was continued due to ground traffic directly ahead," the pilot stated. The third pattern was done using normal procedures and he landed the airplane with no further incidents.

Aircraft

Registration
N3298X
Reported as
Cessna 310L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
310L-0148
Airframe hours
3,242
Engine
Continental IO-470-V, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Engineering & Design Services
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 30, 1994 · 69 hours before
Departed
CFJ
Airport
CFJ · Crawfordsville Municipal, runway 22, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,200 total · 50 in this make and model · 1,100 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 5 knots

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.