FTW94LA006

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 310I · Southlake, TX · October 6, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 5, 1993, 21:30 local (Oct 6, 1993, 02:30 UTC)
Place
Southlake, TX
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N8090MCessna 310I
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report August 1, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19931005037799A
Case key
18949

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

Aircraft control not maintained by the private pilot receiving instruction. Factors were rough runway, runway edge lights inoperative, dark night conditions, brakes restricted due to an out of rig rudder system, and inadequate CFI supervision.

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 control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Aircraft control - not maintainedDual studentCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Factor
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/unevenFactor
Airport facilities,runway edge lights - inoperativeFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Flight control,rudder - movement restrictedFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - airport facility

Analysis

The private pilot flying the airplane from the left seat was receiving dual instruction from a CFI in the right seat. Twelve out of 33 runway edge lights were inoperative and it was a dark night. As the airplane hit a bump on the runway, it veered to the left striking a runway light, a pole, and a hangar. Both pilots reported applying right rudder and brakes. A mechanic's examination of the rudder and brakes revealed that when full right rudder was applied by the right seat pilot, the right brake pedal contacted the firewall. This prevented full right brake application by either pilot.

Factual narrative

On October 5, 1993, approximately 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna 310I, N8090M, sustained substantial damage near Southlake, Texas, following a loss of control during the landing roll. The flight instructor, the private pilot receiving instruction, and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight.

During interviews, conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, with the private pilot, who was receiving multiengine instruction, and the passenger, the following information was revealed. The airplane hit a bump in the runway and veered to the left side of the runway. The airplane hit a runway landing light and the left wing struck the hangar. The private pilot further stated that both pilots were applying right rudder and right brakes.

In the enclosed Pilot/Operator report the flight instructor reported that "it appeared the brakes were not working properly."

The private pilot reported, during a personal interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator report, that the airplane landed to the left of the center line of runway 17. He further reported that the airplane "hit a bump on the runway and veered to the left of the runway" and into the grass. As the airplane continued the ground roll, both pilots applied full right rudder and brakes. He stated that "it felt as if the aircraft was skidding and with the full right rudder pedal and left braking, the aircraft kept rolling." He further said that he and the flight instructor did not have right braking with full right rudder. The student said that several runway lights were not working.

During several telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the enclosed passenger statement, the passenger/mechanic revealed that the left main wheel struck the runway light, the airplane went completely off the runway and onto the grass which was wet with "heavy dew." The aircraft slid until it hit a pole, subsequently impacted a hangar, and groundlooped as it came to rest. The left wing tip, fuel tank, wing spar, aileron, and right main gear were damaged. Upon examining the braking system, the mechanic stated "when I applied full right rudder and attempted to apply right brakes" the "right brake pedal contacts with the firewall preventing either pilot from braking on the right."

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examination revealed that 12 of 33 runway edge lights were inoperative.

The airplane was released to the owner following the investigation.

Aircraft

Registration
N8090M
Reported as
Cessna 310I
Category
Airplane
Serial number
310I0090
Airframe hours
3,614
Engine
Continental IO-470-U, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Alam. Farrukh
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 12, 1993 · 56 hours before
Departed
23F
Destination
23F
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
23F · Goode, runway 17, 3,100 × 40 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
24
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
913 total · 11 in this make and model · 786 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
110° at 4 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 64 °F
Observed at
DFW, 293 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.

Other investigations on N8090M · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.