Cessna 310R Safety Record

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath during the instrument approach, which led to his loss of control and subsequent impact with trees and terrain.

The pilot's selection of a wrong taxi route, inadequate visual lookout, failure to maintain separation from ground obstacles, and excessive taxi speed.

Actions and decisions by National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing's corporate aviation division's management and maintenance personnel to allow the accident airplane to be released for flight with a known and unresolved discrepancy, and the accident pilots' decision to operate the airplane with that known discrepancy, a discrepancy that likely resulted in an in-flight fire. The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/A_Acc1.htm. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-09-01.

The pilot's inattentiveness to the fuel flow and fuel selector valve position resulting in fuel starvation. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to follow proper engine failure procedures, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making.

The in-flight collision with a duck during cruise flight resulting in a ruptured fuel tank and the strobe/light assembly electrical short resulting in a fire to the right wing tip tank. Contributing factors were the dusk light conditions.

The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed while landing which resulted in the airplane stalling 20 feet above the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's execution of the approach when reported weather conditions were below the minimums required for the approach.

The pilot's failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor related to the accident was the low cloud ceiling.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff. Factors in this accident were clouds and the night conditions.

The loss of directional control as a result of reduced braking performance due to a snow-covered runway. Also causal was the pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind. The snowbank was a contributing factor.

The pilot's improper management of the fuel system, including his failure to reposition the fuel selectors to the main fuel tanks prior to landing, as directed in the pilot operating handbook. Additional causes to the accident were the pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the engine failure and his delayed remedial action to the encountered uncommanded roll (VMC roll). A factor to the accident was the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

The pilot not maintaining clearance from objects during an ILS approach in low night IFR conditions and his descent below decision height. Factors were the dark night, mist, low ceiling, and the trees west of the approach.

The pilot's decision to land on a runway that was covered with ice and snow, without obtaining current wind information. Factors were the 20-knot tailwind and the snow-covered runway.