# NTSB CHI99LA050: Cessna 310, N3027D, Ashland, NE, December 9, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1998, 16:17 local (22:17 UTC)
- Place: Ashland, NE
- Coordinates: 41.040988, -96.370422 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0410&lon=-96.3704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45430/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA050

## Probable cause

the pilot's not refueling the airplane to avoid fuel exhaustion, and his inadequate preflight planning.  A factor was fuel exhaustion.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing

## Analysis

The pilot conducted a forced landing in a field where the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The fuel tanks contained only unusable fuel.  There was no indication of fuel leaks from the fuel tanks or fuel tank caps.  The pilot told initial responders that the engines quit due to fuel exhaustion.

## Factual narrative

On December 9, 1998, at 1617 central standard time, a Cessna 310, N3027D, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following loss of power on both engines, about three miles north west of Ashland, Nebraska.  The pilot told authorities that the usable fuel was exhausted.  The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was on file.  The flight originated at Albuquerque, New Mexico, exact time unknown.

After the forced landing the pilot told responding authorities that the forced landing was precipitated by fuel exhaustion.  In his written statement he says, "Engine failure unknown."

An inspection of the airplane after the accident revealed only unusable fuel in the tanks.  There was no evidence of leaking from the fuel tanks or fuel tank caps.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3027D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3027D-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 35227, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 310
- Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35227
- Airframe hours: 3380
- Engines: Continental O-470-M 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert J. Thomas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1998, 30 hours before
- Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: OMA, OMAHA, NE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 701 total, 21 in this make and model, 701 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LNK, 20 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 19981209033169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981209033169A), Dec 9, 1998: Cessna 310, Ashland, NE, Substantial damage. (-23)Aircraft was on a VFR flight from abq to mle. Approx. 25 miles se of miles sw of mle, the right engine failed. The pilot diagnosed fuel starvation as the…

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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