Cessna 310R Safety Record

The pilot’s inability to maintain adequate airspeed after a loss of power to the right engine while maneuvering in the pattern to return to the airport. Contributing to the accident were the loss of power to the right engine for reasons that could not be determined and the pilot’s improper decision to turn toward the inoperative engine during the return flight to the airport.

The failure of the left main landing gear on landing for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of damage sustained during the accident.

The pilot's continued flight into known convective weather conditions, which resulted in the airplane's encounter with thunderstorms and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control during a missed approach. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the approach controllers and the tower controllers to provide timely and accurate weather information to the pilot.

The pilot's controlled flight into terrain during an instrument landing system approach at night in instrument flight rules conditions. Contributing to the accident were the operator's inadequate training of the pilot, the operator's failure to provide a level of oversight commensurate to the pilot's experience, and the pilot's lack of operational experience in actual night instrument conditions in the make and model of the airplane.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a missed approach in night instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation and a lack of instrument proficiency.

The pilot's impairment due to alcohol ingestion and his failure to maintain airplane control during an approach at night in instrument meteorological conditions.

The pilot's flight below the published minimum descent altitude in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of nighttime cold medication at doses above therapeutic levels that may have resulted in impairment and posed a hazard to flight safety.

The pilot's improper response to a known autopilot pitch divergence anomaly. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform a test flight on a system for which he lacked a complete working knowledge.

The uncommanded retraction of the right main landing gear during taxi due to the failure of the landing gear extension system to move the right main gear upper side link into the locked position for undetermined reasons.

The pilot’s failure follow the standard instrument departure as instructed, and his failure to attain a sufficient altitude to maintain clearance from power lines during takeoff in instrument meteorological conditions.

The pilot's impairment due to medication use, a migraine headache, or both, and his decision to continue the approach below minimums without the proper visual references, resulting in the subsequent collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s falsification of medical information provided to the FAA.

The pilot's failure to observe the ongoing construction to the closed runway while landing. Contributing to the accident was flight service's failure to brief the pilot of the closed runway.