# NTSB FTW95LA183: Cessna 340A, N300JM, Dallas, TX, April 28, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 28, 1995, 15:29 local (20:29 UTC)
- Place: Dallas, TX
- Coordinates: 32.769729, -96.749649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7697&lon=-96.7496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA183

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON 'SHORT FINAL' TO RUNWAY 17, THE LEFT ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF 'THRUST', AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED LEFT. POWER WAS APPLIED, AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED FURTHER LEFT. POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. A FIRE ENSUED FROM THE LEFT TIP TANK, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SHUT DOWN ON THE FIRST TURN OFF OF RUNWAY 17. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Factual narrative

On April 28, 1995, at 1529 central daylight time, a Cessna 340A, N300JM, was substantially damaged during landing at Redbird Airport (RBD), Dallas, Texas.  The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal instrument flight rules (IFR) cross country flight.

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported the following information to the investigator-in-charge.  On "short final" to runway 17, the left engine experienced a loss of "thrust", and the airplane yawed left.  Power was applied, and the airplane yawed further left.  Power was reduced on the other engine, and the airplane landed hard off the left side of the runway.  A fire ensued from the left tip tank, and the airplane was shut down on the first turn off of runway 17.

Examination of the airplane revealed scrape marks on the bottom side of the left wing tip tank and the front of the tip tank was displaced downward.  There was fire damage to the left wing outboard of the engine.  The top of the left wing, outboard of the engine nacelle had evidence of buckling.

An airframe and power plant (A & P) mechanic examined the engine and found no mechanical anomalies that could have caused the loss of power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N300JM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A-0233
- Airframe hours: 3531
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pep Flight Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1995, 15 hours before
- Departed: MEI, MERIDIAN, MS
- Destination: RBD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RBD, Redbird, runway 17, 3,801 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 902 total, 125 in this make and model, 631 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Observed at: RBD

## 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 19950428009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950428009919A), Apr 28, 1995: Cessna 340A, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. Left engine lost power short final misshandled engine out below VMC. Landed hard left of runway. Fire at tip tank.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.