# NTSB LAX94LA345: Cessna 310L, N3272X, Agua Dulce, CA, September 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1994, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Agua Dulce, CA - Coordinates: 34.429256, -118.509735 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4293&lon=-118.5097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28847/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA345 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while reaching cross cockpit for the flap control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, go-around (vfr) - raising of flaps - initiated, pilot in command - diverted attention, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, WHO IS ALSO A PILOT, SAID THE AIRCRAFT AND PILOT DEPARTED VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA, ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT, STOPPED AT AGUA DULCE TO PICK UP THE OWNER AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS, THEN PROCEEDED TO MAMMOTH LAKES FOR A BUSINESS MEETING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING THE PASSENGERS TO AGUA DULCE WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THE PILOT AND THE AIRCRAFT OWNER BOTH SAID THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 22 WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DO A GO-AROUND AND APPLIED FULL POWER; BOTH THE PILOT AND THE AIRCRAFT OWNER STATED THAT BOTH ENGINES RESPONDED WITH FULL POWER. THE PILOT REACHED FOR THE FLAP SELECTOR SWITCH AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ROLLING TO THE LEFT. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD CORRECT THE LEFT ROLL, THE LEFT WING TIP COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED TO A STOP. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE WINDSOCK INDICATED THE WIND APPEARED TO BE DIRECTLY DOWN THE RUNWAY. A PILOT WITNESS ON THE GROUND SAID THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE FROM 250 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, WITH HIGHER GUSTS OF UNKNOWN INTENSITY. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1994, at 1510 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 310L, N3272X, collided with the ground during an attempted go- around at the Agua Dulce, California, airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by West Winds Aviation, of Van Nuys, California, and was on a cross-country business transportation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured; however, two passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Mammoth Lakes, California, on the day of the accident at 1315 hours as a cross-country flight to Agua Dulce. According to the aircraft owner, who is also a pilot, the aircraft and pilot departed Van Nuys, California, on the morning of the accident, stopped at Agua Dulce to pick up the owner and the other passengers, then proceeded to Mammoth Lakes for a business meeting. The aircraft was returning the passengers to Agua Dulce when the accident happened. The pilot and the aircraft owner both stated that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft. The pilot was on short final approach to runway 22 when the aircraft drifted right of the runway. The pilot elected to do a go-around and applied full power; both the pilot and the aircraft owner stated that both engines responded with full power. The pilot reached for the flap selector switch and the aircraft began rolling to the left. Before the pilot could correct the left roll, the left wing tip collided with the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled to a stop. The pilot stated that when he observed the windsock while on approach the wind appeared to be directly down the runway. A ground witness, who is also a pilot, reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 250 degrees at 15 knots, with higher gusts of unknown intensity. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3272X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3272X-1996-06-21), registration cancelled 1996-06-21, S/N 310L0122 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310L - Registry model: [Cessna 310L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310l) (registry code 2074230) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310L-0122 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-V 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Feuerhelm Transportation, Inc., doing business as West Winds Aviation - Registered owner: Feuerhelm Transportation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Departed: MMH, MAMMOTH LAKES, CA - Destination: L70 - Airport: L70, Agua Dulce Airpark, runway 22, 4,600 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 830 total, 30 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19940901024869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940901024869A), Sep 1, 1994: Cessna 310L, Agua Dulce, CA, Destroyed. Drifted on short final. Began go around. Rolled left. Dragged wing cartwheeling aircraft. 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.