# NTSB MIA85LA240: Cessna 310B, N543GT, Hawthorne, FL, August 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1985, 23:00 local (Aug 29, 1985, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Hawthorne, FL
- Coordinates: 29.589546, -82.079689 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5895&lon=-82.0797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31445/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA240

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - autopilot/flight director - failure,total
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - autopilot/flight director - undetermined (cause)
- Nose down, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY FLT THE PLT STATED THAT THE AUTOPLT WAS ERRATIC, HOT AND SMOKING. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT HE CONTINUED TO USE THE AUTOPLT. AT ABOUT 1000 FT ON FINAL APCH THE AUTOPLT FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS AND THE ACFT NOSED DOWN. THE ACFT CRASHED AND WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N543GT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35632
- Airframe hours: 6089
- Engines: Teledyne Cont IO-470 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Judy Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1985, 16 hours before
- Departed: 4TA0, DAMON, TX
- Destination: HAWTHORNE, FL
- Airport: Melrose Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,155 total, 32 in this make and model, 914 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 16 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 19850828076389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850828076389A), Aug 28, 1985: Cessna 310B, Hawthorne, FL, Destroyed. Autopilot started smoking and pitched aircraft down. Hit trees, then ground. Had autopilot on at 1000 feet AGL.

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.