Cessna 310 Shuts Down Both Mills -- Short Of The Runway
Things get VERY distracting when an aircraft system problem
escalates to an unplanned landing. Under such circumstances, once
has to react carefully and swiftly... though sometimes the concept
of swiftly and carefully can conflict with each other. In this
case, a Twin Cessna pilot shut down both engines proper to landing
with the knowledge that he had a nose gear problem --
while obviously trying to save the engines. However; shutting
both mills down a little early put the bird down short of the
runway... and will necessitate an interesting conversation with the
Feds. Thankfully, while the bird is bent, the pilot is not.
NTSB Identification: WPR11LA092
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, January 09, 2011 in Lancaster, CA
Aircraft: CESSNA 310C, registration: N1755H
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On January 9, 2011, about 0750 Pacific standard time, a Cessna
310C, N1755H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with
terrain near the approach end of runway 24 at the General Wm J Fox
Airfield (KWJF), Lancaster, California. The airplane was owned by
the pilot and operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal
flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport
pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed
for the cross-country flight that originated from Daggett,
California, at 0707.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that
the nose landing gear failed to fully retract after a practice
approach to the Palmdale Regional Airport, Palmdale, California.
The pilot diverted to Lancaster with the intent of landing on
runway 24. The pilot stated that on final approach to the runway he
shutdown both engines. Subsequently, the airplane's sink rate
increased and the pilot inadvertently landed short of the intended
runway.
Cessna 310 File Photo
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and
left wing.