# NTSB NYC87FAMS1: Cessna 310, N5462J, Hamburg, NY, December 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1986, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Hamburg, NY
- Coordinates: 42.720096, -78.830032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7201&lon=-78.8300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30522
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FAMS1
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30522/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FAMS1

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - light condition - daylight
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE CESSNA 310R DEPARTED THE AIRPORT ON A SVFR DEPARTURE. THE PILOT CANCELLED HIS CLEARANCE A FEW MINUTES LATER AND REPORTED IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION. RADAR TRACKING SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT HEADING TOWARD LAKE ERIE. THE NEXT DAY SOME DEBRIS WAS FOUND ON THE LAKE SURFACE. THEY INCLUDED AN OIL SLICK, A SMALL PIECE OF ALUMINUM LATER IDENTIFIED AS BEING PART OF A TIP TANK AND A CURTAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER A LARGER PIECE OF ALUMINUM IDENTIFIED AS THE TOP COWL OF A CESSNA 310 WAS FOUND ON THE CANADIAN SIDE OF LAKE ERIE. THE OPERATOR IDENTIFIED THE PARTS AS BEING PAINTED LAKE THE MISSING AIRCRAFT AND THE CURTAINS IDENTICAL TO THOSE IN THE AIRCRAFT. NO MAJOR WRECKAGE OR SERIALIZED COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN FOUND AND THE REASON FOR THE AIRCRAFT NOT ARRIVING AT ITS DESTINATION IS UNKNOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5462J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R0260
- Airframe hours: 3945
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO 520 BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Buffalo Express Airlines
- Registered owner: Flight Barons, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 26, 1986
- Departed: JHW, JAMESTOWN, NY
- Destination: 0G0, LOCKPORT, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,695 total, 1,650 in this make and model, 3,873 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JHW

## 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 19861231070539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861231070539A), Dec 31, 1986: Cessna 310R, Hamburg, NY, Destroyed. The aircraft did not arrive at its destination. Suspect the pilot attempted low flight and aircraft hit lake erie.

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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