# NTSB DEN90FA021: Cessna 310I, N145Y, Provo, UT, November 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 9, 1989, 13:47 local (20:47 UTC)
- Place: Provo, UT
- Location: 40.2338° N, 111.6585° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Provo, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2338&lon=-111.6585&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17808/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA021

## Probable cause

THE CESSNA PILOT MISJUDGE HIS ALTITUDE ABOVE THE WATER.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  THE PILOT ALLOWING HIS ATTENTION TO BE DIVERTED AND HIS LACK OF VISUAL/DEPTH PERCEPTION OVER THE CALM (GLASSY) WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLTS OF CESSNA 310, N145Y, AND BEECH J35 (BONANZA), N4258B, PREPLANNED A FLT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING A VIDEO WHILE FLYING AS A FLT OF 2 ACFT. DRG FLT, THE BONANZA PLT ASSUMED A LEAD POSITION WITH THE CESSNA IN A LOOSE ECHELON FORMATION. THEY PROCEEDED OVER UTAH LAKE AT LOW ALT. THE WIND WAS LIGHT & THE WATER IN THE LAKE WAS CALM. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE FLYING AT LOW ALT OVER THE LAKE, THE CESSNA HIT THE WATER. THE VIDEO FILM SHOWED THAT JUST PRIOR TO WATER IMPACT, THE BONANZA WAS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CESSNA & SLIGHTLY HIGHER. AFTER THE ACDNT, THE CESSNA SANK IN 12 FT OF WATER. BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE CESSNA SUFFERED BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA ASSOCIATED WITH IMPACT; HOWEVER, THE MED EXAMINER RPRTD THEIR DEATHS WERE DUE TO DROWNING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N145Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N145Y-1991-11-26), registration cancelled 1991-11-26, S/N 310I0026 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310I
- Registry model: [Cessna 310I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310i) (registry code 2074224) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310I0026
- Airframe hours: 4000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-U 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Trojan, Robert W.
- Registered owner: Trojan, Robert W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 1989
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: PVU, PROVO, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,267 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,137 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVU, 5 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 19891109044909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891109044909A), Nov 9, 1989: Cessna 310I, Provo, UT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted lake and sank while filming another aircraft by agreement. Too low glassy water distorted actual clearance.

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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