# NTSB LAX97LA012: Cessna 310Q, N7833Q, Truckee, CA, October 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 1996, 20:45 local (Oct 9, 1996, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Location: 39.3142° N, 120.1225° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TRUCKEE-TAHOE (TRK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3142&lon=-120.1225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 5, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29660/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA012 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and fuel consumption calculations resulting in fuel exhaustion. The pilot's failure to switch the fuel tanks to the auxiliary position and feather both propellers were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - all engines - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis While turning on the final approach, with the landing gear extended, the pilot switched the fuel tanks' selector handles from the auxiliary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks. Shortly thereafter, both engines sustained a total loss of power. The pilot turned on the boost pumps to restart both engines, but without success. During the ensuing emergency landing, the pilot did not retract the landing gear or feather both propellers. The airplane landed about 450 feet short of the runway. The postaccident examination of the airplane disclosed that both main fuel tanks were empty. Neither the main fuel tanks nor their associated components were compromised during the impact sequence. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 1996, at 2045 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, N7833Q, crashed about 450 feet east of runway 28 at Truckee-Tahoe Airport, Truckee, California. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Reno International Airport, Reno, Nevada, about 2030. Safety Board investigators interviewed the pilot via telephone on October 8, 1996. The pilot said that when he was on the downwind leg of runway 28, he became preoccupied with the radios and forgot to switch the fuel tanks' selector handles from the auxiliary tanks to the main tanks. After he switched the fuel selector handles to the main tanks, both engines lost power. He attempted to restart the engines, but without success. The airplane's altitude was insufficient to make the airport and he landed short of the runway. The pilot also told the investigating FAA inspector from the Reno Flight Standards District Office that after both engines lost power, he turned on the boost pumps. He said that he didn't feather the propellers or retract the landing gear and was unable to extend the glide to the runway. The FAA inspector reported that he did not find any fuel in the main fuel tanks. He also said that the main fuel tanks and their associated components were not compromised during the impact sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7833Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7833Q-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 310Q0615, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310Q - 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: 310Q0615 - Airframe hours: 3600 - Engines: Continental IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Winthrop G. Dale, Dvm - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1996, 4 hours before - Departed: RNO, RENO, NV - Destination: TRK - Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe, runway 28, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,753 total, 5,180 in this make and model, 7,591 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TRK, 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 19961008031289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961008031289A), Oct 8, 1996: Cessna 310Q, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. Both engine quit on downwind. Exhausted aux tank fuel. Mains also empty. Failed feather or raise gear make airport. 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.