# NTSB LAX91LA385: Cessna C-310B, N5442A, San Pedro, CA, September 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1991, 18:15 local (Sep 7, 1991, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: San Pedro, CA
- Coordinates: 33.730575, -118.289321 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7306&lon=-118.2893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA385
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA385

## Probable cause

AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT/MECHANIC COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE AIRCRAFT AND INTENDED TO PERFORM A SHORT TEST FLIGHT OUT OVER THE CHANNEL BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND AN ISLAND.  THE ATCT CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT FOR TAKEOFF AT 1757 HOURS WITH A RIGHT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE.  THERE WERE NO DOCUMENTED RADIO CONTACTS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE PILOT LEFT THE LOCAL CONTROL FREQUENCY.  RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTING THE TORRANCE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA AND PROCEEDING SOUTH BOUND OVER THE CHANNEL FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 10 MILES.  THE TARGET THEN REVERSED COURSE AND WAS HEADED FOR THE MAINLAND AGAIN WHEN THE TARGET TRACK APPEARED TO MAKE AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN AND DISAPPEAR AT A POINT ABOUT SIX MILES SOUTH OF SAN PEDRO.  SEVERAL WITNESSES WERE IN BOATS IN THE CHANNEL AT ABOUT THE TIME THE TARGET DISAPPEARED, AND IN THE GENERAL AREA OF THE LAST RECORDED RADAR POSITION.  SEVERAL OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING SOUNDS OF AN ENGINE SPUTTERING THEN THE SOUNDS OF A LARGE SPLASH.  ONE WITNESS REPORTED OBSERVING A LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT AT ABOUT 1830 HOURS JUST PRIOR TO HEARING THE LARGE SPLASH SOUNDS.  THE WITNESS COULD NOT, HOWEVER, IDENTIFY THE AIRCRAFT MAKE, MODEL OR EVEN SPECIFIC CLASS (SINGLE OR MULTI ENGINE) THAT HE OBSERVED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5442A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5442A-2013-04-09), registration cancelled 2013-04-09, S/N 35642, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-310B
- Registry model: [Cessna 310B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310b) (registry code 2074208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35642
- Airframe hours: 3999
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-M 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Peter T. Bell
- Registered owner: Peter T. Bell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1991, 1 hours before
- Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 500 total, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F

## 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 19910906062749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910906062749A), Sep 6, 1991: Cessna 310B, San Pedro, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Missing on maintenance test flight. Pieces and 310 gear found in ocean. Evidence of scorching in patchy areas.

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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