FTW92FA133

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 310K · Carswell Afb, TX · May 19, 1992

Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
May 18, 1992, 20:34 local (May 19, 1992, 01:34 UTC)
Place
Carswell Afb, TX
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N6980LCessna 310K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report June 30, 1993
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19920518015429A
Case key
18359

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Loss of power to both engines from fuel starvation and the improper selector positions of fuel tanks by the pilot. A factor was the pilot's failure to feather the propellers.

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.

Loss of engine powerDescent
All engines
Fluid,fuel - starvationCause
Fuel tank selector position - improperPilot in commandCause
Propeller feathering - not performedPilot in commandFactor
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Object - approach light/navaid
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The multiengine airplane was descended from 9,500 feet MSL to 3,500 feet MSL when the pilot reported a loss of power to both engines at 6,500 feet. He elected to turn and attempt a landing at a military air force base where he could see the approach lights. The pilot stated both engines quit at the same time, but came back on for 1/2 second, then quit again. He stated that he could not feather the propellers that were reportedly rotating at 2,000 RPM. The airplane descended at a high sink rate for approximately 1/2 statute mile. The landing gear were lowered approximately 1 1/2 statute miles from the end of the runway. The flaps were lowered near the runway threshold. The airplane struck the localizer antenna assembly with the main landing gear, lower left fuselage, and left elevator. It then impacted onto the runway and slid approximately 525 feet. The fuel selectors were on the auxiliary tanks. They were examined and found dry. Each main fuel tank contained 41 gallons. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane. The throttles, mixtures, and propeller controls were positioned full forward.

Aircraft

Registration
N6980L
Reported as
Cessna 310K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
310K-0080
Airframe hours
3,310
Engine
Continental IO-470-V, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Sams, Charles & Linda
Registered owner
Sams, Charles & Linda
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 16, 1991 · 269 hours before
Departed
MAF · Midland, TX
Destination
ADS · Addison, TX
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
KFWH · Carswell Afb, runway 17, 12,000 × 300 ft, concrete

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
35
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
936 total · 81 in this make and model · 602 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
Calm
Visibility
6 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
4,000 ft broken
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.