# NTSB LAX93LA019: Cessna 310R, N5074J, Saipan, Mauritius, October 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 27, 1992, 15:05 local (Oct 28, 1992, 01:05 UTC)
- Place: Saipan, Mauritius
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27850/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA019

## Probable cause

THE PILOT NOT FOLLOWING WAKE TURBULENCE (VOTEX) AVOIDANCE PROCEDURES, WHICH ARE DETAILED IN FAA PUBLICATIONS, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERING WAKE TURBULENCE.  FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE:  1) THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE AFTER ENCOUNTERING WAKE TURBULENCE, AND 2) INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO EFFECT A RECOVERY FROM THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Vortex turbulence encountered, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

AN FAA OPERATIONS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND INTERVIEWED WITNESSES AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10 AIRPLANE DEPARTED FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 7 ABOUT ONE MINUTE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE BEGAN ITS TAKEOFF.  THEY SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE BEGAN ITS TAKEOFF FROM AN INTERSECTION ON RUNWAY 7, ABOUT 2,700 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE DC-10 WAS LIFTING OFF THE GROUND.  THEY FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200 TO 250 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND; BANKED ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT; CORRECTED TO ABOUT A 30 DEGREE RIGHT BANK; AND THEN 'SNAPPED' 120 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. AT THIS POINT, THE WITNESSES SAID THE AIRPLANE BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE.  THE WITNESSES STATED THEY BELIEVED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE DEPARTING DC-10.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5074J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5074J-1994-02-04), registration cancelled 1994-02-04, S/N 310R0194 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R-0194
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Pacific Island Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Pacific Island Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 20, 1992
- Departed: GSN
- Destination: GRO, ROTA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: GSN, Saipan International, runway 7, 8,700 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,582 total, 78 in this make and model, 6,582 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSN, 1 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 19921027043729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921027043729A), Oct 27, 1992: Cessna 310R, Obyan, Northern Mariana Islands, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control rolled over and impacted a wing. Slid inverted on runway. Was departing too close behind a jumbo jet.

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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