# NTSB GAA19CA536: Cessna 310, N7673Q, Tahlequah, OK, September 5, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2019, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Tahlequah, OK - Coordinates: 35.930278, -95.004447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9303&lon=-95.0044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100229 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA536 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100229/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100229 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA536 ## Probable cause The total loss of right engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot's improper fuel management. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during approach to land and while the airplane about 250 ft above ground level, "he ran the right tank dry," and the engine then lost power. He switched the right fuel tank selector to the auxiliary fuel tank, but despite his attempts, he could not restart the engine. He subsequently landed the airplane in a grassy field short of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both main fuel tanks were empty and that about 17 gallons of fuel remained in the auxiliary tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported that during approach to land, about 250 ft. above the ground, "he ran the right tank dry" and the right engine lost power. He switched the right fuel tank selector to the auxiliary fuel tank, but despite his attempts, he could not restart the engine. The airplane subsequently landed in a grassy field short of the runway. Post-accident examination revealed that both main fuel tanks were devoid of fuel and about 17 gallons of fuel remained in the auxiliary tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7673Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7673Q-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 310Q0452, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310 (Q) - Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310Q0452 - Year built: 1972 - Engines: Continental IO-470 SERIES reciprocating; Continental IO-520-E2B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: 3L Executive Coach LLC - Registered owner: 3L Executive Coach LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DUC, Duncan, OK - Destination: TQH, Tahlequah, OK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: TQH, Tahlequah Muni, runway 17, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KTQH ## 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 20190905017929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190905017929A), Sep 5, 2019: Cessna 310Q, Tahlequah, OK, Substantial damage. The pilot forgot to switch fuel tanks for main to aux. The main tanks were dry and it caused the right engine to quit on final approach. The pilot was too… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100229. 235 KB in all. - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.