- Date
- December 29, 1990, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4808BCessna 310
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901229056439A
- Case key
- 32741
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command/mechanic reversal of the aileron control cables on the sprocket during installation. This resulted in an in flight loss of control on takeoff, uncontrolled descent, and in flight collision with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot/mechanic reversal of the aileron control cables on the lower aileron sprocket during installation resulted in an in flight loss of control in VFR conditions on takeoff, uncontrolled descent, and in flight collision with terrain. The airplane was destroyed by post crash fire. The pilot/mechanic sustained serious thermal injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4808B
- Reported as
- Cessna 310
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 55108
- Engine
- Continental O-470-B, 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Skipper A. Gatlin
- Registered owner
- Fred A. Johnson
- Airport
- 34J · New Smyrna Beach Muni, runway 6, 4,235 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,600 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 8 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.