# NTSB NYC82FA188: Cessna 310R, N98841, Danbury, CT, August 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1982, 01:36 local (05:36 UTC)
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Location: 41.3948° N, 73.4540° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Danbury, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3948&lon=-73.4540&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70398/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA188

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - air/ground communications - not received, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

APPROACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT, THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO PLAN A VOR RWY 24 APPROACH & THAT HE WOULD BE TURNED JUST INSIDE THE FAF. AT 0055, NEWARK A/C IDENTIFIED THE ACFT 3 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT STILL AT 2,000 FT & ASKED THE PLT IF HE WAS ABLE TO EXECUTE THE APCH FROM THAT POINT. THE PLT REPLIED NEGATIVE, HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS & COULDN'T SEE THE RWY. THE PLT WAS THEN GIVEN TURNS FOR A VECTOR FOR AN ILS RWY 6 APCH. THE PLT DID NOT RESPOND TO SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSIONS & AT 0104, KENNEDY APCH ADVISED NEWARK APCH THAT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THEY WERE WORKING THE ACFT. AT 0108 THE PLT RETURNED TO NEWARK APCH FREQ & WAS GIVEN VECTORS TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, NEWARK APCH LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE ACFT. BOTH NEWARK APCH & KENNEDY APCH WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN RE-ESTABLISHING RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PLT. AT 0129 A TARGET WAS OBSERVED OVER WESTCHESTER COUNTY ARPT & AT 0132 THE ACFT WAS OVER DANBURY ARPT. THE ACFT IMPACTED A HILL AT AN ELEVATION OF 700 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98841](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98841-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 310R0608, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R 0608
- Airframe hours: 1922
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-M1 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Series Contracting Company
- Registered owner: Series Contracting Company
- Departed: WESTHAMPTON, NY
- Destination: TETERBORO, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Danbury

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 600 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 158 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HPN, 20 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 19820809035269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820809035269A), Aug 9, 1982: Cessna 310R, Danbury, CT, Destroyed. Unskilled IFR pilot had radio problems. Became confused. Apparently making approach at wrong airport. Lost control.

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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