# NTSB DEN85FA055: Cessna 310N, N5069Q, Edgewood, NM, January 1, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1985, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Edgewood, NM
- Coordinates: 35.079559, -106.170387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0796&lon=-106.1704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16521
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16521/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA055

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer attachment - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
  - flight control,elevator - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE PVT RATED PILOT DID NOT HOLD A MULTIENGINE OR INSTRUMENT RATING. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE RETURNING FROM VACATION. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT SHE SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND OUT OF A LOW OVER LAST AT A VERY STEEP NOSE DOWN ANGLE. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO CLIMB BUT THEN PITCHED DOWN AND SPUN TO THE GND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT LEFT AND RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, THE ELEVATORS AND THE RUDDER HAD SEPERATED IN-FLIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED COMPONENTS REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT WAS INDICATIVE OF OVERSTRESS DUE TO AERODYNAMIC OVERLOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5069Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5069Q-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 310N-0169, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310N
- Registry model: [Cessna 310N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310n) (registry code 2074234) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310N169
- Airframe hours: 3288
- Engines: CONTINENTAL ID-470-VO 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Oren Ronald Alt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: LN4, LAKE HAVASU CIT, AZ
- Destination: GXY, GREELEY, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,087 total, 23 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Observed at: 4MY

## 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 19850101001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850101001299A), Jan 1, 1985: Cessna 310N, Edgewood, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR unrated pilot lost control in IFR conditions. Airframe failure occurred before aircraft struck ground.

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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