All Aircraft Components Have Been Accounted For

A National Transportation Safety Board official told reporters the initial investigation into Tuesday's fatal Cessna 310 accident in Sanford, FL has produced no obvious signs of what may have caused smoke or fire in the aircraft's cabin that was reported by the pilot just prior to impact.

There have been no obvious problems identified with the engines or propellers, either.

"A cursory examination of the engines and the propeller assemblies has revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies or deficiencies," NTSB Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt said. "We are conducting a slow, detailed examination of the flight controls."

As ANN reported, five people perished when the twin engine Cessna 310R crashed into a Sandford, FL neighborhood. The aircraft departed Daytona Beach International (DAB) Tuesday morning en route to Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport (LAL.) Minutes after takeoff, the C310's pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, and declared an emergency.

Sumwalt said all major aircraft components had been accounted for at the crash scene during a Wednesday news conference according to WKMG Orlando Channel 6.
 
"The engines have been removed from the site and taken to a facility at the Sanford Airport and during the next few days they will undergo a detailed examination," he said.

"At this time, there is no obvious sign of what may have caused possible in-flight smoke or fire," Sumwalt added. "However, this is the very beginning of the investigation."

"Our investigative team is working very hard to complete their work here on scene to help the wonderful people of this neighborhood to begin the recovery process and return to some normalcy in their lives," Sumwalt said.

Although the aircraft's maintenance records were delivered to NTSB officials Wednesday they've not been investigated yet as this is the fact-finding phase of the probe and the investigation itself will likely continue for many months.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 501N        Make/Model: C310      Description: 310, T310 (U-3, L-27)
  Date: 07/10/2007     Time: 1235

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: ORLANDO   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  PILOT REPORTED SMOKE IN COCKPIT AND INTENTION TO ATTEMPT LANDING AT
  SANFORD, FL. AIRCRAFT CRASHED 2 MILES NW OF SANFORD STRIKING HOMES AND
  CAUSING A FIRE, ORLANDO, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   5
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   3     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: VFR

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Approach      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: WASHINGTON, DC  (WA45)                Entry date: 07/11/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov