# NTSB WPR23LA327: Cessna 310Q, N117TC, Santa Fe, NM, August 27, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2023, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Fe, NM
- Coordinates: 35.617111, -106.08941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6171&lon=-106.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192956
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA327
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192956/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192956
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA327

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare following an unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2074242), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported being high and fast on final approach. When he reduced power to land the airplane descended rapidly and landed hard. The left landing gear collapsed and the airplane exited the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N117TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N117TC), registered now, S/N 310Q0786, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 310Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310q) (registry code 2074242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310Q0786
- Year built: 1973
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KRPH, Graham, TX
- Destination: KSAF, KSAF, NM
- Airport: SAF, Sante Fe Regional, runway 20, 8,366 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 4,342 total, 658 in this make and model, 4,211 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: KSAF
- METAR: KSAF 271953Z 33007KT 10SM BKN065 OVC100 28/12 A3027 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W AND NW SLP142 T02780117

## 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 20230827014169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230827014169A), Aug 27, 2023: Cessna 310Q, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. On August 27, 2023, at approximately 1333 MDT, a Cessna 310Q, a fixed-wing multiengine aircraft, [privacy data omitted], was involved in an accident at the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192956. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16470848&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N117TC_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16471011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20N117TC-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16498808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot%20N117TC-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.

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