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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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June 23, 1988 · Cessna 310 · N170R

Big Bear Lake, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 23, 1988
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Big Bear Lake, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 310
Tail Number
N170R
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX88FA230

THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED MULTIENGINE PILOT AND FRIENDS FLEW TO BIG BEAR AIRPORT FOR LUNCH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 8,000 FEET. THE PILOT ENTERED A SOUTH DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 07 AT THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A MOONEY 231. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING VERY SLOW WHEN IT WAS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE BASE LEG. IT STALLED AND ENTERED INTO A SPIN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT ATTITUDE. THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEARS AND FLAPS WERE EXTENDED; THE AMOUNT OF FLAP EXTENSION, HOWEVER, COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Full Narrative

THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED MULTIENGINE PILOT AND FRIENDS FLEW TO BIG BEAR AIRPORT FOR LUNCH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 8,000 FEET. THE PILOT ENTERED A SOUTH DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 07 AT THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING A MOONEY 231. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING VERY SLOW WHEN IT WAS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE BASE LEG. IT STALLED AND ENTERED INTO A SPIN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT ATTITUDE. THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEARS AND FLAPS WERE EXTENDED; THE AMOUNT OF FLAP EXTENSION, HOWEVER, COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:29 PDT
Nearest AirportBig Bear City Airport (2nm SW)
Runway7
Runway Length5850 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 310
Tail NumberN170R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-D · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 15 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time20:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data