# NTSB CHI99LA019: Cessna 310R, N310PB, Wichita, KS, November 1, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 31, 1998, 19:23 local (Nov 1, 1998, 01:23 UTC)
- Place: Wichita, KS
- Coordinates: 37.679992, -97.340766 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6800&lon=-97.3408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45184
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45184/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA019

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and the inadequate recovery from the bounced landing which resulted in a loss of control and the ground loop.  Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's misjudging the winds conditions and the gusty crosswind.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, other
  - ground loop/swerve

## Analysis

The pilot received reported winds of 050 to 070 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 28 knots during the approach.  He reported that he '...evaluated the crosswind and determined that it was much less than expected.'  At an altitude of 20 to 25 feet above the runway, the airplane '...abruptly dropped...resulting in a high bounce, another hard touchdown, with resulting bounce.'  On the third touchdown the airplane remained on the runway where it groundlooped coming to rest off the runway.  Maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the Cessna 310R is 19 knots.  Given conditions would have produced a 16 to 26 knot crosswind.

## Factual narrative

On October 31, 1998, at 1923 central standard time, a Cessna 310R, N310PB, operated by a private pilot collided with the terrain following a loss of control while landing on runway 36 (6,100' x 100') at the Jabara Airport, Wichita, Kansas.  The pilot and five passengers were not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions on an IFR flight plan.  The flight originated from Lincoln, Nebraska, at 1800 cst.

The pilot reported that during the approach he received the automated weather broadcast which was reporting the wind to be from 050 to 070 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 28 knots.  He continued to report that during the landing approach "...evaluated the crosswind and determined that it was much less than expected.  In addition, I did not experience the turbulence one would anticipate with reported conditions."

The pilot reported that at an altitude of 20 to 25 feet above the runway, the airplane "...abruptly dropped...resulting in a high bounce, another hard touchdown, with resulting bounce."  He reported that on the third touchdown the airplane remained on the ground, but it was pointed in a northeasterly direction.  He stated the airplane groundlooped and came to rest on a northerly heading off the side of the runway.

According to the Cessna 310R Pilot's Operating Handbook, the Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind Velocity is 19 knots.  Using the crosswind component chart in the same handbook and the wind condition reported to the pilot, the wind component perpendicular to the runway would have varied between approximately 16 and 26 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N310PB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N310PB-2001-02-28), registration cancelled 2001-02-28, S/N 310R0656 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 310R
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R0656
- Airframe hours: 3182
- Engines: Continental IO-520-M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael P. Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1998, 78 hours before
- Departed: LNK, LINCOLN, NE
- Destination: AAO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 3KM, Jabara, runway 36, 6,100 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 874 total, 516 in this make and model, 874 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/bright
- Wind: 60° at 23 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken
- Observed at: AAO

## 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 19981031039499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981031039499A), Oct 31, 1998: Cessna 310R, Wichita, KS, Substantial damage. On October 31, 1998, at 1923 central standard time, a Cessna 310R, N310PB, operated by a private pilot collided with the terrain following a loss of control…

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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