Cessna 310 Safety Record & Twin-Engine Buying Guide | AeroGurus
Editorial safety summary — see Cessna 310 listings and consult a qualified A&P/inspector for individual aircraft decisions.
The Cessna 310 was the first cabin-class piston twin produced in volume by Cessna, running from 1954 to 1980 with progressive refinement across some 5,000 produced. Its safety profile inherits the universal piston-twin variable: engine-out scenarios at low altitude near Vmc demand current, well-trained pilots; a rusty multi-engine pilot is statistically at greater risk in a piston twin than the equivalent single-engine alternative. The 310's specific characteristics — tip-tank fuel system requiring proper management, aux fuel pumps, fairly demanding short-field handling — add to required currency. With current multi-engine training and proper aircraft-specific transition, the 310 has a fleet safety record consistent with other 1960s- 80s cabin-class piston twins.
Common safety topics
- Vmc and engine-out procedures — recurrent multi-engine training essential.
- Tip-tank fuel system — proper management; older variants have specific cross-feed and
- Continental IO-470 / IO-520 reliability — good with proper maintenance.
- Gear-up landings — same as other retractable twins; checklist discipline matters.
Pre-buy safety checklist
- Engine logs both engines, overhaul history, compression.
- Tip-tank fuel system inspection and cross-feed valve function.
- Landing gear actuator and retraction tests.
- Airframe corrosion inspection (1960s-70s aircraft).
- Multi-engine training plan for the buyer.
Safety FAQ
- Is the 310 safe?
- With current pilot training, yes — class-average accident rate for 1960s-80s
- What about the tip tanks?
- Tip-tank fuel system requires proper procedure; type-specific
- Engine reliability?
- Good — Continental IO-470/IO-520 are well-supported.