# NTSB MIA84FA090: Cessna 310R, N3447G, St. Petersburg, FL, February 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1984, 19:00 local (Feb 22, 1984, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Petersburg, FL
- Coordinates: 27.770681, -82.630271 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7707&lon=-82.6303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA090

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - lightning (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PLT NOTICED THUNDERSTORMS & LIGHTNING TO THE NORTH OF THE ARPT. HE STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF HE REMEMBERED A FLASH OF LIGHT & A NOISE. HIS NEXT RECOLLECTION IS IMPACT & BEING IN THE WATER. THE AREA AROUND ST. PETERSBURG AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS IMC. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS, LEVELS 3, 4 & 5, WITH TOPS TO 44,000 FT, WERE NOTED IN THE AREA. A WITNESS (RATED PLT) STATED HE SAW THE ACFT DEPART & CLIMB NORMALLY UNTIL IT ENTERED A LOW CLOUD (SCUD) BANK & THEN HEARD THE ENGS SUDDENLY STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3447G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3447G-1984-08-01), registration cancelled 1984-08-01, S/N 310R0836 (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: 0836
- Airframe hours: 2640
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert C. Kane
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 14, 1983, 40 hours before
- Departed: SPG, ST. PETERSBURG, FL
- Destination: VNC, VENICE, FL
- Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 6, 3,322 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,380 total, 4 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 11 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 19840221004679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840221004679A), Feb 21, 1984: Cessna 310R, St Petersburg, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot departed in vicinity of thunderstorm. Reported seeing flash and aircraft crashed into bay.

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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