Cessna 310Q Safety Record

The pilot’s delayed reaction in performing the engine failure procedures and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s improper torquing of the B-nut between the fuel supply hose and the manifold valve.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain in day visual conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to marijuana and inadequate medical oversight of the pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Improper maintenance performed on the airplane by maintenance personnel, and the failure of the mechanic with an inspection authorization (IA) to verify the maintenance work performed, which resulted in a reverse elevator trim system, and subsequent loss of control and collision with trees during the initial climb from takeoff.

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall during the instrument landing approach, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with terrain. Also causal was the pilot's impairment due to prohibited drugs. Factors associated with the accident are an inadvertent stall, a low ceiling, dark night, and the pilot's lack of currency in instrument flight rules.

The loss of engine power as a result of a fatigue fracture in one of the crankshaft gear teeth for undetermined reasons. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the twin-engine airplane after the power loss, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain.

Improper installation of the elevator trim tab control rod by maintenance personnel which allowed the control rod to disconnect and jam in the full up position (elevator full down) while in-flight. This resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with trees and terrain.

The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and his continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in in-flight collision with trees. A related factor was the fog.

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and subsequent ditching at sea. Darkness and the high sea condition (rough water) were related factors.

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT'S ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ABOVE VMC, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE SINGLE ENGINE G0-AROUND. FACTORS WERE NOT ATTAINING RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND THE CFI'S FAILURE TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR FOR THE GO-AROUND PROCEDURE.

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN THE STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE BEING EXCEEDED AND AIRFRAME FAILURE.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB ON ALL ENGINES FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING, IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES, TERRAIN, AND POSTCRASH FIRE.

THE PILOT'S CONTINUATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN AN ADEQUATE WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE FLIGHT.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO SAFELY CLEAR THE MOUNTAINS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, BOX CANYON, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

THE PILOT INDUCED OVERLOAD TO THE AIRPLANE STRUCTURE CAUSING MATERIAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE. ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER, AND SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT, ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.