# NTSB NYC95LA165: Cessna 310Q, N310JM, Buffalo, NY, July 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1995, 02:00 local (06:00 UTC) - Place: Buffalo, NY - Coordinates: 42.8996, -78.889434 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8996&lon=-78.8894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39007 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39007/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA165 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the right main landing gear. Pilot fatigue was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The airplane initially touched down on runway 32 with approximately 3981 feet remaining. Runway 32 was 5376 feet long and 150 feet wide. The pilot stated that initial contact with the runway was 'a little harder than usual' and the airplane bounced. He added power, and the airplane began to 'float.' When he reduced power, the right wing struck the ground. The investigation revealed that during the landing sequence, the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot had stated to FAA inspector(s) that during initial touchdown, he was 'glad this flight was over, he was getting tired.' According to the pilot, he had started work at approximately 1400 and had flown to Albany at about 1830. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1995, about 0200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, N310JM, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Buffalo International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The business flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the FAA, the airplane initially touched down on runway 32, approximately 50 feet beyond the intersection of runways 23 and 32 (with approximately 3981 feet remaining). Runway 32 was 5,376 feet long and 150 feet wide. The pilot stated to the FAA Inspector that his: ...initial contact with the runway was "a little harder than usual" and he bounced and noticed that something did not feel right. He added power and the aircraft began to "float." When he reduced power he felt the right wing going down, and around taxiway Q...the right wing touched the ground...he...remembered saying to himself during initial touchdown that he was glad this flight was over, he was getting tired. He had started work at approximately 2:00PM (1400)and had flown to Albany at around 6:30PM (1830). During the landing sequence, the right main landing gear collapsed. The investigation revealed that there were 3 gouges in the runway pavement where the "right prop" first contacted the pavement abeam the intersection of runway 32 and taxiway Q. The airplane continued on the runway for approximately 1500 feet, departing the right side of the runway before coming to rest in the grass. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 3,407.6 total flight hours, 1,236.6 night flight hours and 243 flight hours in this make and model airplane. The BUF 0211 weather was; 8,500 scattered, 10,000 broken, visibility 15 miles, temperature 68 degrees F, dew point 57 degrees F, wind 290 degrees, 7 knots, altimeter 29.87 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: N310JM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310Q - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1011 - Airframe hours: 3235 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VO 470 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 1994, 76 hours before - Departed: ALB, ALBANY, NY - Destination: BUF - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BUF, Buffalo International, runway 32, 5,376 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,408 total, 243 in this make and model, 3,339 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BUF ## 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 19950719022379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950719022379A), Jul 19, 1995: Cessna 310Q, Buffalo, NY, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing. Right wing and prop struck runway. Right main gear collapsed. Pilot blamed fatigue. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.