Cessna 310J N308J

Summary

On 30 October 2009 at about 17:17 local time, a Cessna 310J registered N308J was involved in an accident near Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. One person on the ground also died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 October 2009 at 17:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Gwinnett County Airport-Brisco (LZU)

Coordinates

34.0281, -84.0047

Aircraft

Cessna 310J

Registration

N308J

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lawrenceville → Sparta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10FA040

1 person died, including 1 on the ground.

The pilot’s loss of aircraft control while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions, as a result of spatial disorientation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed from the airport under instrument meteorological conditions on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Weather included a 300-foot overcast cloud layer and 1 mile visibility with light rain and mist. Shortly after takeoff, the air traffic controller lost radio contact with the pilot, and witnesses observed the airplane rolling under full power as it descended out of the clouds. The airplane subsequently collided with a house about 4 miles northwest of the airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction that precluded normal operation. Based on the wreckage and the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident, it is likely that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.