# NTSB MKC89LA073: Cessna 310Q, N69806, Norfolk, NE, March 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1989, 00:30 local (06:30 UTC)
- Place: Norfolk, NE
- Coordinates: 42.029464, -97.409126 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0295&lon=-97.4091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34763
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34763/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA073

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FLARE. CONTRIBUTINGTO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICING CONDITIONS AND ICE ACCUMULATION OF THE WINGS OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING AN ILS LOCALIZER APPROACH, THE ACFT LANDED HARD CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING SPAR. THE PLT SAID HE HAD ACCUMULATED SUBSTANTIAL ICE ON THE ACFT AND UTILIZED THE DEICING EQUIPMENT SHORTLY BEFORE LDG. HE SAID HE CROSSED THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AT 100 KNOTS AND REDUCED POWER. THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN SUDDENLY, THEN POWER AND BACK PRESSURE WERE APPLIED TO CUSHION THE LDG. THE ACFT HIT HARD, BOUNCED, THEN SETTLED ON THE RUNWAY. IT WAS THEN TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69806](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69806-1990-03-13), registration cancelled 1990-03-13, S/N 310Q0988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310Q0988
- Airframe hours: 4337
- Engines: CONTINENTAL 10-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Mid Plains Aviation
- Registered owner: Balestra, Renato
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 22, 1989, 11 hours before
- Departed: DSM, DES MOINES, IA
- Destination: OFK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OFK, Karl Stephan, runway 1, 5,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,745 total, 438 in this make and model, 4,448 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OFK, 1 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 19890302003439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890302003439A), Mar 2, 1989: Cessna 310Q, Norfolk, NE, Substantial damage. Aircraft dropped to runway on short final due to airframe icing and reduced power too soon. Impact bent wing spars.

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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