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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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September 24, 1990 · Cessna 310J · N3132L

Colorado Spring, CO

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 24, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Colorado Spring, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 310J
Tail Number
N3132L
Operator
Cahrles Matson
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN90LA193

WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A GEAR UP LANDING IN A FIELD, COMING TO REST ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER HAD NOT BEEN FEATHERED, BUT THE RIGHT PROPELLER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BEING FEATHERED PRIOR TO IMPACT. AN ENGINE RUN OF THE LEFT ENGINE SHOWED THE UNMETERED FUEL PRESSURE WAS SET TOO HIGH AT IDLE, RESULTING IN ROUGH RUNNING AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. EVIDENCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT LEFT ENGINE LOGBOOK INDICATED A HISTORY OF HARD STARTING, MIXTURE RELATED PROBLEMS AND ROUGH RUNNING. THE OPERATOR HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE FAULTS. HE TOLD THE PILOT TO START THE LEFT ENGINE WITH THE MIXTURE LEVER RETARTED TO NEAR IDLE CUTOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF POWER ON ONE ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE AND THE PILOT'S FEATHERING OF THE WRONG PROPELLER. FACTOR(S) WERE: OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES BY PILOT AND OPERATOR.

Full Narrative

WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB, THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A GEAR UP LANDING IN A FIELD, COMING TO REST ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER HAD NOT BEEN FEATHERED, BUT THE RIGHT PROPELLER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BEING FEATHERED PRIOR TO IMPACT. AN ENGINE RUN OF THE LEFT ENGINE SHOWED THE UNMETERED FUEL PRESSURE WAS SET TOO HIGH AT IDLE, RESULTING IN ROUGH RUNNING AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. EVIDENCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT LEFT ENGINE LOGBOOK INDICATED A HISTORY OF HARD STARTING, MIXTURE RELATED PROBLEMS AND ROUGH RUNNING. THE OPERATOR HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THESE FAULTS. HE TOLD THE PILOT TO START THE LEFT ENGINE WITH THE MIXTURE LEVER RETARTED TO NEAR IDLE CUTOFF.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:54 MDT
Nearest AirportColorado Springs (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 310J
Tail NumberN3132L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCahrles Matson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-470-U · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 23 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 6 kt
Visibility65 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data