# NTSB GAA19CA004: Cessna 310, N553CM, Marathon, TX, October 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2018, 19:20 local (Oct 5, 2018, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Marathon, TX - Coordinates: 29.823333, -102.690551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8233&lon=-102.6906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to see and avoid a cow on the airstrip during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Wildlife encounter (non-bird)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 107 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/310/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing on a private dirt airstrip on his ranch, the airplane collided with a cow. The pilot added that he did not see the cow during the approach or on the runway during touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing on a private dirt airstrip on his ranch, the airplane collided with a cow. The pilot added that he did not see the cow during the approach or on the runway during touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N553CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N553CM-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 310R0169, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310R0169 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 7149 - Engines: Continental IO 550A2B 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO 520 A2B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cessna 205 Llc - Registered owner: Cessna 205 Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 2018 - Departed: RYW, Lago Vista, TX - Destination: PVT, Marathon, TX - Airport: PVT, Desert Mountain Ranch - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,000 total, 350 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: K6R6, 28 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20181004016679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181004016679A), Oct 4, 2018: Cessna 310R, Marathon, TX, Substantial damage. On October 4, 2018 at 1920 CDT, a Cessna 310R bearing registration number N553CM, registered to Cessna 205, LLC hit a cow after landing on a Private Air Strip… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98416. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 842 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 916 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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.