# NTSB FTW92LA117: Cessna 310P, N5936M, Austin, TX, April 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1992, 20:50 local (Apr 23, 1992, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Austin, TX
- Coordinates: 30.299343, -97.69065 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2993&lon=-97.6907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18480/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA117

## Probable cause

THE APPROACH CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SEQUENCE ARRIVING TRAFFIC, AND THE TOWER CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO SEQUENCE AND SEPARATE LANDING TRAFFIC. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A LANDING CLEARANCE AND THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Vortex turbulence encountered, landing - flare/touchdown
  - approach/departure control service - improper, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - control tower service - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - atc clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE FLT HAD BEEN VECTORED FOR RUNWAY 13R BY APPROACH CONTROL FROM THE POINT OF INITIAL CONTACT. IT WAS THEN HANDED OFF TO TOWER; THERE WAS NO VERBAL COORDINATION BETWEEN APPROACH & TOWER. A MILITARY TRANSPORT HELICOPTER EXECUTED AN APPROACH TO THE SAME RUNWAY AHEAD OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE, AND TERMINATED AT ABOUT A 300-FT HOVER OVER THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE REQUESTED VECTORS FOR SEPARATION; TOWER RESPONDED SEPARATION '...SHOULD BE JUST FINE....' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 13R, THE PILOT REQUESTED CONFIRMATION THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEHIND THE HELICOPTER. THE TOWER RESPONDED '...YOU WERE CLEARED TO LAND ON THE LEFT RUNWAY.' THE PILOT RESPONDED 'OKAY UNDERSTAND WE WERE ONE THREE RIGHT.' AS THE AIRPLANE WAS FLARING, IT ENCOUNTERED VORTEX TURBULENCE FROM THE HELICOPTER AND CONTROL WAS LOST. THE TOWER NEVER ISSUED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE A LANDING CLEARANCE TO EITHER RUNWAY, NOR WAS A CLEARANCE TO LAND REQUESTED BY THE PILOT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5936M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5936M-1995-05-15), registration cancelled 1995-05-15, S/N 310P0236 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310P
- Registry model: [Cessna 310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310p) (registry code 2074238) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310P0236
- Airframe hours: 4982
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Stramel Aviation
- Registered owner: Stramel Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1991, 48 hours before
- Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Airport: AUS, Mueller, runway 13, 7,270 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 842 total, 156 in this make and model, 763 as pilot in command, 147 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19920422010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920422010619A), Apr 22, 1992: Cessna 310P, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Cleared to land 13R behind military helicopter. Encountered vortex turbulence. Couldn't go around. Night landing.

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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