# NTSB MIA08FA177: Cessna T310R, N3180M, Latrobe, PA, August 31, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2008, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Latrobe, PA - Coordinates: 40.460834, -79.60778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4608&lon=-79.6078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Continental Teledyne Motors, Cessna Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 68835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08FA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68835/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68835 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08FA177 ## Probable cause The pilot's impairment/incapacitation (cardiovascular) resulting in the pilot being unable to control the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: cardiovascular](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that she was outside of her home when she saw the two-engine airplane flying low over her house. The airplane flew with "the left wing up and the right wing down," the engines sounded like they were "running at full power," and the airplane was "descending very fast." As she watched the airplane clear trees and disappear from view, she heard a "thud" which was followed by a plume of white and gray smoke. She then ran towards the smoke, and found the downed airplane in a heavily wooded area. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. The pilot did not hold a current Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate and had been hospitalized for congestive heart failure several months prior to the accident. The pilot’s cardiologist stated the decedent should not have been flying with his medical condition. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 31, 2008, about 0940 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T310R N3180M, impacted the ground near Latrobe, Pennsylvania, after it lost control during cruise flight. The certificated private pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, was killed. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A witness reported that she was outside of her home when she saw a two-engine airplane flying low over her house. The airplane flew with "the left wing up and the right wing down," the engines sounded like they were "running at full power," and the airplane was "descending very fast." She continued by saying that she knew the airplane was in trouble as it continued down on a steep trajectory. As she watched the airplane clear trees and disappear from view, she heard a "thud," which was followed by a plume of white and gray smoke. She then ran towards the smoke, and found the downed airplane in a heavily wooded area. The coroner’s Report of Investigation notes that the deputy coroner met with the pilot's friend, a flight instructor. The flight instructor said that the pilot left him a voice mail the morning of the accident, stating that he was going to fly at 0900 hours, and that the pilot would meet him at the hanger. The flight instructor returned the call, and left a voice mail stating that he would be “unable to fly with [the pilot] today.” The instructor told the deputy coroner that the pilot had not flown for 3 weeks. The instructor also stated to the deputy coroner that he did not fly with the pilot as an instructor, but as a flying companion and noted that the pilot “was a good pilot and could handle in-flight emergencies if they arose.” PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 78, held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land and airplane multiengine land. His certificate was issued on December 13, 1998. His last third-class medical certificate was issued on May 4, 2000, with waivers for corrective lenses. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for review, and he reported 800 hours of total flight experience on his last medical application. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The six-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane was manufactured in 1980. It was powered by two Continental TSIO-520 SER, 300-horsepower engines, and equipped with three-bladed McCauley propellers. The airplane's logbooks were not recovered for review. The logbooks were reportedly in the pilot's hanger, but were not located. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The reported weather at LBE, at 0850, included clear skies and wind from 020 degrees at 8 knots. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area, 15 miles northwest from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (LBE), Latrobe,Pennsylvania. The wreckage debris path was 75 feet in length on a 190-degree magnetic heading. Examination of the airplane revealed that all flight control surfaces were located at the wreckage site. The entire airframe was fragmented throughout the debris path, and was fire damaged. All flight control cables ends exhibited evidence of tension overload. Examination of the airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the left engine revealed that it was separated from the airframe and found along the debris path. All engine accessories, fuel lines, and ignition leads were separated from the engine case. The intake manifold and exhaust manifolds were separated from the case. The propeller flange was impact damaged and the propeller was separated from the flange. The propeller hub was broken and the three propeller blades were separated, and were located along the debris path. All three blades displayed chordwise bending. Examination of the engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the right engine revealed that is was separated from the airframe and found along the debris path. All engine accessories, fuel lines, and ignition leads were separated from the engine case. The intake manifold and exhaust manifolds were separated from the case. The propeller flange was impact damaged and the propeller was separated from the flange. The propeller hub was broken and the three propeller blades were separated and located along the debris path. All three blades displayed chordwise bending. Examination of the engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot on September 1, 2008, by the Division of Natural Sciences, Gross Anatomy, medical examiner’s office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as authorized by the coroner, County of Westmoreland. The cause of death was reported as “multiple injuries due to blunt trauma." The autopsy report noted that “no recognizable visceral organs” were identified. The coroner’s Report of Investigation noted, in part, “The decedent was recently hospitalized for congestive hear failure and had a follow-up with [his cardiologist] on May 1, 2008. His diagnoses included; cardiomyopathy, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, prior myocardial infarction, iron deficiency anemia, significant pulmonary hypertension, biatrial dilatation, chronic atrial fibrillation and duodenal diverticula…[The pilot’s cardiologist] told me he did not know the decedent was a pilot and was actively flying an airplane. He stated the decedent should not have been flying with his medical condition.” Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol was detected inthe liver or muscle, and no drugs were detected in the liver. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3180M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3180M-2012-09-27), registration cancelled 2012-09-27, S/N 310R1866, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T310R - Registry model: [Cessna T310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t310r) (registry code 2074246) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310R1866 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 BB 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520 BB 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LBE, LATROBE, PA - Destination: LBE, LATROBE, PA - Airport: LBE, Arnold Palmer Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; toxicology performed; flight hours: 800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: LBE ## 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 20080831851939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080831851939A), Aug 31, 2008: Cessna T310R, Export, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Cessna N3180M, operated by [privacy data omitted] departed latrobe, PA (klbe) at approximately 0930 on August 31, 2008. The aircraft was destroyed and… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68835. 19.1 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40308304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40308305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40309999&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323210&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo-Main wreckage site (item 5, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323211&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Main%20wreckage%20site-Master.PDF - Photo-Left engine (item 6, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Left%20engine-Master.PDF - Photo-Left engine propeller blade (item 7, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Left%20engine%20propeller%20blade-Master.PDF - Photo-Right engine (item 8, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Right%20engine-Master.PDF - Photo-Right engine propeller blades (item 9, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Right%20engine%20propeller%20blades-Master.PDF 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.