# NTSB NYC88FA051: Cessna 310R, N5052J, Hector, NY, December 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1987, 22:45 local (Dec 7, 1987, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Hector, NY
- Coordinates: 42.499214, -76.870857 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4992&lon=-76.8709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35993/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA051

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,line fitting - loose (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, unknown (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - wing - fire (cause)
  - fuselage,cabin - fire (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - emergency
  - flight control,elevator - separation
  - flight control,elevator - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT MADE A ROUTINE IFR POSITION REPORT 12 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES OBSERVED AN 'ORANGE BALL' BEFORE THE CRASH. EVIDENCE AT THE CRASH SITE SHOWED INFLIGHT JETTISON OF THE PILOT'S EMERGENCY WINDOW, POSITIVE AERODYDNAMIC OVERLOAD SEPARATION OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR COMPONENTS, AND PARTIAL EXPENDITURE OF THE COCKPIT PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF INFLIGHT FIRE OUTBOARD OF THE RIGHT ENGINE WHERE A LOOSE B-NUT WAS FOUND ON A FUEL LINE. THE MOST EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE RIGHT COCKPIT FLOORBOARD AREA. TOX EXAM OF THE PLT REVEALED A 10 PERCENT CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL HOWEVER AN OXYGEN SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED ON THE ACFT WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY THE PLT DURING THE INFLT EMGCY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5052J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5052J-1988-12-21), registration cancelled 1988-12-21, S/N 310R0172 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R
- Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310R0172
- Airframe hours: 3481
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520M 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lindsay Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1987, 20 hours before
- Departed: MSV, MONTICELLO, NY
- Destination: BUF, BUFFALO, NY
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,798 total, 1,582 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELM, 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 19871206082429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871206082429A), Dec 6, 1987: Cessna 310R, Hector, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates aircraft fire and explosion in air and airframe failure prior crash. Fire bottle used. Loose fuel line.

## Other investigations on N5052J (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX76FUA29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FUA29), Jul 18, 1976: Cessna 310 (N5052J), Torrance, CA, minor damage

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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