- Date
- January 20, 2000, 12:26 local (18:26 UTC)
- Place
- Spring Branch, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N310GGCessna 310Q
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000120000469A
- Case key
- 49365
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor was the open cabin door.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, at 82 knots, the cabin door opened. He attempted to close the door, but was unsuccessful, and then elected to abort the takeoff with approximately 200 yards of runway remaining. The airplane skidded off of the departure end of the runway, and the nose gear collapsed as the airplane impacted a ditch.
Factual narrative
On January 20, 2000, at 1226 central standard time, a Cessna 310Q twin-engine airplane, N310GG, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch and a fence during an aborted takeoff at the Kestral Airpark, Spring Branch, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Harlingen, Texas.
In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, at 82 knots, the cabin door opened. He attempted to close the door, but was unsuccessful, and elected to abort the takeoff with approximately 200 yards of runway remaining. The airplane skidded off of the departure end of the runway, and the nose gear collapsed as the airplane impacted a ditch.
The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that there were tire skid marks on the last 250 feet of runway, where the pilot applied heavy breaking. He added that the airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing, left main landing gear, and propellers.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N310GG
- Reported as
- Cessna 310Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310Q0938
- Airframe hours
- 3,563
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-VO, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ron A. Sprague
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1999 · 94 hours before
- Departed
- 1T7
- Destination
- HRL · Harlingen, TX
- Airport
- 1T7 · Kestrel Airpark, runway 30, 3,050 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,511 total · 470 in this make and model · 1,511 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 14 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAT, 25 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.