CHI96LA070

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 310R · Minocqua, WI · December 29, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 29, 1995, 17:31 local (23:31 UTC)
Place
Minocqua, WI
Injuries
5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N68300Cessna 310R
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report August 20, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19951229043579A
Case key
10181

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 the landing. The weather and ice accumulation on the airplane were factors.

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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Wing - iceFactor
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command

Analysis

The pilot reported that while descending and being vectored on the localizer approach, the airplane accumulated mixed but mostly clear ice. He executed a missed approach, subjecting the airplane to 'extended exposure to ice conditions.' On his next approach, the pilot stated that he experienced 'deterioration of performance resulting in a near ground stall and hard landing.'

Factual narrative

On December 29, 1995, at 1731 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 310R, N68300, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. An instrument flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or the three passengers on board. The flight originated at Madison, Wisconsin, at 1600 cst.

In his written statement, the pilot reported that "while descending, being vectored and on the localizer approach for runway 36" at Noble Lee/Lakeland Airport, Minocqua, Wisconsin, "mixed, but mostly clear ice accumulated on the airplane." The pilot executed a missed approach which subjected the airplane to "extended exposure to ice conditions." On his next approach, the pilot stated that he experienced "deterioration of performance resulting in a near ground stall and hard landing."

The pilot received a weather briefing from the Flight Service Station at Green Bay, Wisconsin, at 1530 cst. No reports of icing or forecast icing conditions for his route of flight were contained in that briefing.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at Noble Lee/Lakeland Airport on January 2, 1996. He found the front carry-through spar on the right wing bent slightly rearward. There was damage to the right propeller and skin wrinkles to the right side of the fuselage just aft of the passenger window, and to the underside of the right wing from the wing root to the right engine locker. Examination of the engines, engine controls, flight controls and other airplane systems showed no anomalies.

Aircraft

Registration
N68300
Reported as
Cessna 310R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2108
Airframe hours
5,160
Engine
Continental IO-520-MB, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Start Renting, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 30, 1995 · 20 hours before
Departed
MSN · Madison, WI
Destination
ARV
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ARV · Noble Lee/Lakeland, runway 36, 5,150 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
980 total · 540 in this make and model · 890 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
220° at 10 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
600 ft overcast
Temperature
10 °F, dew point 3 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ARV, 1 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.