Cessna 310G N8978Z

Summary

On 1 September 2000 at about 18:50 local time, a Cessna 310G registered N8978Z was involved in an accident near Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 September 2000 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Seven Springs Airport (7SP)

Coordinates

40.0110, -79.4195

Aircraft

Cessna 310G

Registration

N8978Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Glens Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00LA246

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain the manufacture's recommended safe single-engine airspeed, which resulted in a velocity-minimum-control roll to the right. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path to his intended touchdown point, which resulted in a single engine go-around attempt.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While at 5,000 feet in VMC, the right engine spinner look unusual to the pilot. He reduced the throttle, but could not identify the problem, so he secured the engine. A tear in the spinner was identified. The pilot restarted the engine, but then shut it down because of a vibration. The pilot advised ATC that he had secured the engine, and needed to divert. While on short final, the pilot realized he would not make his intended touchdown point, because the airplane was too high. With the airplane 'sinking excessively,' the pilot decided to go around. He advanced the throttle on the left engine, the airplane rolled right, and then impacted trees. The right spinner had a 1/2-inch crack that started at its base and ran perpendicular to the rotation of the propeller. The crack then transitioned to a tear. The fracture surface for the crack was grayish in color, and consistent with fatigue. The POH stated that the pilot was to check the propeller and spinner for 'nicks, security and oil leaks,' prior to flight. The recommended safe single-engine speed for the airplane was 92 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.