# NTSB NYC99LA048: Cessna 310R, N31UV, Allentown, PA, January 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 1999, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Allentown, PA - Coordinates: 40.599769, -75.470207 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5998&lon=-75.4702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=45624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA048 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to reduce too much power during the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - icing conditions - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot operated the airplane's deicing boots after ice accumulated on the wings. The right wing's outboard, 3-foot section, did not clear. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport, and completed an ILS approach. He reduced power early in the flare, and the airplane made a hard landing. Personnel on the ground observed about 4 inches of ice on the outboard leading edge of the right wing. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 1999, at 1720 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 310R, N31UV, was substantially damaged during landing at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Canadian-certificated commercial pilot and five passengers were uninjured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight between Bangor International Airport (BGR), Bangor, Maine, and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he was in icing conditions, and that he operated the deicing boots after ice accumulated on the wings. The right wing's outboard, 3-foot section, did not clear. The pilot decided to divert to Lehigh Valley, and completed the ILS RWY 13 approach. Then, "at point of flare, [I] reduced power too much at 15 feet over runway, and aircraft landed hard. Taxied to [the] FBO and discovered...[the] damage." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, after the airplane landed, ground personnel observed about 4 inches of ice on the outboard leading edge of the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31UV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31UV-2000-02-04), registration cancelled 2000-02-04, S/N 310R1572 (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: 310R1572 - Airframe hours: 6188 - Engines: Continental IO-520MB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tim Mccandless, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 1998, 95 hours before - Departed: BGR, BANGOR, ME - Destination: PNE, PHILADELPHIA, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ABE, Lehigh Valley Intl, runway 13, 5,797 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,720 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABE ## 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 19990108000399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990108000399A), Jan 8, 1999: Cessna 310R, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. Acft landed hard due to structural icing. (.19)on January 8, 1999, at 1745 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310R, N31UV, was substantially damaged during… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 1999, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=45624. 619 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40104177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40104179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.