# NTSB LAX87LA133: Cessna 310G, N161A, Sedona, AZ, February 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 16, 1987, 18:15 local (Feb 17, 1987, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.940292, -111.939453 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9403&lon=-111.9395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25534
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25534/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA133

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON RWY 3 WHILE ON A NIGHT VFR PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE PLT INDICATED THAT IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND HE ELECTED TO FLY THE NDA-A IAP TO INSURE TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHILE LOOKING FOR THE RWY. WHILE ON FINAL APCH HE ACTIVATED THE MIRL ON THE TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQ. THE PLT STATED, 'THE LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE DIM AND THE LANDING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE RWY SURFACE.' THE PLT ADJUSTED THE ACFT PITCH ATTITUDE TO A SLIGHT NOSE UP AND ADDED POWER. THE PLT STATE THAT THE LANDING WAS 'SUFFICIENTLY HARD TO DAMAGE THE INTERNAL WING STRUCTURE OF THE ACFT.' THE PLT WAS REQUIRED TO WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES FOR DISTANT VISION AND POSSESS CORRECTIVE LENSES FOR NEAR VISION. THE PLT'S NIGHT VISUAL ACUITY IS DEGRADED BY THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECT OF HIS VISION. THIS ASPECT BEING THE NEED FOR CORRECTIVE LENSES. THE EFFECTS OF ALT, HYPOXIA, WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON NIGHT VISION. DETERIORATION IN NIGHT VISION CAN OCCUR AT CABIN PRESSURE ALTS AS LOW AS 5,000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N161A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N161A-1991-06-03), registration cancelled 1991-06-03, S/N 310G0022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310G
- Registry model: [Cessna 310G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310g) (registry code 2074218) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3100022
- Airframe hours: 4435
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aircraft Development Corp.
- Registered owner: Aircraft Development Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 1986, 42 hours before
- Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: SEZ, SEDONA, AZ
- Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,135 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,142 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLG, 18 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 19870216004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870216004459A), Feb 16, 1987: Cessna STC310, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. The aircraft touched down hard on landing. Suspect elder pilots vision was affected by night and high altitude.

## Other investigations on N161A (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX90LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA193), May 24, 1990: Cessna 310G (N161A), Sedona, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT SELECTED THE WRONG RUNWAY, AND PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT WAS NOT ATTAINED.

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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