- Date
- January 24, 1996, 11:19 local (16:19 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5079JCessna 310R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960124000899A
- Case key
- 37974
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
failure of the pilot to follow emergency procedure(s) and/or feather the respective propeller after loss of power in the left engine for an undetermined reason. The undetermined loss of power (left engine) was a related factor.
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 flight was on left base for landing when the left engine lost power. The pilot believed that the right engine would not produce full power. He attempted to land on a road, but the airplane struck a tree and subsequently burned. According to the pilot, when he departed the Bahamas, there was '20 gallons in each main [tank], 30 [gallons] in each auxiliary tank, 20 [gallons] in left wing locker...[the] duration of the flight 1+40, fuel consumption 31 gallons per hour,' or an approximate burn of 52 gallons of fuel. While cruising at 6500 feet, he 'switched' to the auxiliary tanks, 'drained the left wing locker tank' and switched back to the main tanks. Examination of the wreckage revealed the left engine propeller had not been feathered. Also, the landing gear was found extended, and the left engine cowling was intact. The right engine and the right side of the airplane had been consumed by fire damage, but the left engine did not display any fire damage. Both fuel selectors were found positioned to the main fuel tanks. The left engine was placed on a test stand, and a test run was conducted, but no discrepancies were found.
Factual narrative
On January 24, 1996, about 1119 eastern standard time, N5079J, a Cessna 310R crashed in Fort Pierce, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and three passengers received minor injuries, and one passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated from Freeport, Bahamas, with a stop at North Eleutria Island.
The pilot stated that on left base for landing the left engine failed and he did not feather the propeller. He further stated that the right engine would not produce full power. He attempted to land on a road and struck a tree. There was an extensive postcrash fire.
According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, when they departed North Eleutria Island, there was "20 gallons in each main [tank], 30 [gallons] in each auxiliary tank, 20 [gallons] in left wing locker...duration of the flight 1+40, fuel consumption 31 gallons per hour," or an approximate burn of 52 gallons of fuel.
The pilot further stated that while at a cruise altitude of 6500 feet, he "switched" to the auxiliary tanks, and had "drained the left wing locker tank" en route to Freeport. Between Freeport and Fort Pierce, he switched back to the main tanks, and was on the mains when he landed.
The pilot told the police that after performing the landing check list he extended the landing gear. He then turned left onto base leg when the "left engine quit." He went to full power on the right engine, but was "unable to get full power." Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left engine propeller was not feathered.
Further examination of the wreckage revealed that the landing gear was down, and the left engine cowling was intact. The left engine and cowling did not display any fire damage. The right engine and right side of the airplane had been consumed by fire damage.
Both fuel selectors were found on the main fuel tanks. The left engine was placed on a test stand and a test run was conducted. No discrepancies were found during the engine test run.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5079J
- Reported as
- Cessna 310R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 310R0199
- Airframe hours
- 1,446
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Cordair Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 4, 1995
- Departed
- MMEH · North Eleutria, OF
- Destination
- FPR
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- FPR · St Lucie County, runway 14, 4,756 × 100 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
- 81
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FPR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.