# NTSB FTW92FA133: Cessna 310K, N6980L, Carswell Afb, TX, May 19, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 18, 1992, 20:34 local (May 19, 1992, 01:34 UTC)
- Place: Carswell Afb, TX
- Coordinates: 32.769184, -97.430961 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7692&lon=-97.4310&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18359
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92FA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18359/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92FA133

## 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

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

- Loss of engine power, descent
  - all engines
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - approach light/navaid
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6980L-1994-04-19), registration cancelled 1994-04-19, S/N 310K0080 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310K
- Registry model: [Cessna 310K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310k) (registry code 2074228) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310K-0080
- Airframe hours: 3310
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920518015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920518015429A), May 18, 1992: Cessna 310K, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Lost both engines. Crash landed, auxiliary tanks empty,main tanks full fuel. Selector on auxiliary tanks.

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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