# NTSB FTW86MA074: Cessna 310Q, N69668, Houston, TX, May 2, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1986, 05:17 local (10:17 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.769498, -95.509658 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7695&lon=-95.5097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22167
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86MA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22167/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86MA074

## Analysis

DRG NGT VISUAL APCH, PLT ENCTRD DTRTG WX, GOT VECTORS FOR ILS RWY 8 APCH, WAS CLRD FOR APCH AT 0511 CDT. ON FINAL APCH, HE NOTED HIS #1 & #2 ILS'S GIVING ERRATIC LOC & G/S INFO (BUT FUNCTIONING) & THAT HIS LOC COURSE DEVIATION INFO DIDN'T AGREE WITH ADF, BUT HE CONTD APCH. AT 0512, HE HEARD ANOTHER FLT (LNDG ON RWY 14L) RPRT BRKG OUT OF CLDS AT MINS (200' AGL). AT 0513, THE PLT WAS ADZD THE LATEST WX WAS: 200' BRKN, VIS 3 MI. WHILE THE PLT WAS INTERPRETING INSTRUMENTS, THE ACFT BRK OUT OF CLDS & HIT TREES APRX 3/4 MI LEFT OF COURSE, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. ARPT HAD ILS'S FOR RWYS 8 & 26 (WITHDIFFERENT IDENTIFIERS) THAT USED SAME X-MITTER & FREQ FOR THE LOC. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE X-MITTER WAS SET FOR RWY 26 & THE PLT DIDN'T ID THE SIGNAL. FLT CHK SHOWED ILS WLD HAVE PROVIDED A USABLE SIGNAL IN THAT CONFIGURATION, BUT WITH BACK COURSE (REVERSE) LOC SENSING COMMANDS. TWR CTLR THOUGHT ILS WAS SET FOR RWY 8, BUT DIDN'T RECALL CHGG IT FM RWY 26. ATISHADN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 0011 CDT. 0529 WX: 100' OVC, 3/4 MI VIS WITH FOG (1/4 MI VIS AT TWR). ATCT SUPV NOT IN TWR CAB

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - meteorological services,atis - inaccurate (contributing factor)
  - updating of recorded weather information - not performed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, approach
  - control tower service - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, atc personnel(supervisor) (cause)
  - approach aids,complete ils - not operating (cause)
  - navaid signal - not identified, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69668](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69668-1988-08-24), registration cancelled 1988-08-24, S/N 310Q0842 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310Q-0842
- Airframe hours: 2566
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-V0 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Canfield Aviation,Inc., doing business as Chequer Charter Co.
- Registered owner: John W. Morley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 29, 1986, 68 hours before
- Departed: AXH, ARCOLA, TX
- Destination: IAH
- Airport: IAH, Houston Intercontinental, runway 8, 9,401 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,133 total, 74 in this make and model, 1,026 as pilot in command, 341 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAH, 1 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 19860502018039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860502018039A), May 2, 1986: Cessna 310Q, Houston, TX, Destroyed. Descended below dh and crashed into trees. ATC failed to switch antennas to runway 8 causing reverse LOC commands.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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