# NTSB WPR16LA171: Cessna 310R, N455TB, Schafer Meadows, MT, June 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 26, 2016, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Schafer Meadows, MT - Coordinates: 48.074443, -113.24028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0744&lon=-113.2403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93921/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93921 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA171 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and landing gear collapse for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2074245), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing on an uphill runway, the airplane touched down, veered slightly to the side, and then veered the other direction and back. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, the landing gear collapsed, and the stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. During postaccident examination, the left landing gear upper trunnion was found fracture separated. The investigation could not determine whether the upper trunnion fracture separation caused the airplane to veer from one direction to the other or whether the trunnion was fractured due to the landing gear collapsing. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2016, about 1000 mountain standard time, a Cessna 310R airplane, N455TB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Schafer USFS Airport (8U2), Schafer Meadows, Montana. The pilot and three passengers were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during landing on an uphill runway, the airplane touched down, veered slightly to the side, and then to the other direction and back. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then came to rest about 50 ft from the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. The left landing gear upper trunnion was found fracture separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N455TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N455TB), registered now, S/N 310R1860 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310R - Registry model: [Cessna 310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310r) (registry code 2074245) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310R1860 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Smith Loren - Registered owner: Smith Loren - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GTF, Great Falls, MT - Destination: 8U2, Schafer Meadows, MT - Airport: 8U2, Schafer USFS Airport, runway 7, 3,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: GPI, 43 nm away ## Other investigations on N455TB (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 WPR10LA476](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA476), Sep 28, 2010: Cessna 310R (N455TB), Great Falls, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The uncommanded retraction of the right main landing gear during taxi due to the failure of the landing gear extension system to move the right main gear upper side link into the locked position for… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93921. 1.6 MB in all. - Record of email - pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11800335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20Pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - On scene photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11801105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos%20for%20docket-Rel.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.