Reports Ceiling 200 Feet And Visibility Of 2.5 Miles

The NTSB has issued a preliminary report on an accident in Jacksonville, FL December 8 that resulted in the fatal injury of all three people on board a Cessna 310 which went down during a missed approach procedure in IFR conditions.

According to the report, the airplane, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it collided with a retaining pond, during a missed approach at Jacksonville Executive Airport (KCRG), Jacksonville, Florida. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the planned flight to CRG. The flight originated from St Lucie County International Airport (KFPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, about 1715. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to preliminary information from the FAA, the airplane was in radio and radar contact with air traffic control (ATC) as the pilot was performing an instrument landing system approach to runway 32 at CRG. The pilot subsequently reported to ATC that he was doing a missed approach and no further communications were received from the accident airplane. During the missed approach, the airplane climbed from approximately 325 feet mean sea level (msl), to 425 feet msl, before radar contact was lost.

The wreckage was subsequently located about 1 mile south of CRG, submerged in a retaining pond of a residential development. The wreckage was upright, intact, and oriented about a southerly heading. The leading edges of both wings and the nosecone exhibited impact damage while the empennage was undamaged. The wing flaps were extended approximately 15 degrees and the landing gear was retracted. The pilot's side of the instrument panel was equipped with an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) with backup attitude indicator. Both engines, the EFIS, and a digital engine analyzer were retained for further examination.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on August 2, 2013. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 1,600 hours.

The recorded weather at KCRG, at 1833, was: wind 060 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 2.5 miles in mist; overcast ceiling at 200 feet; temperature 18 degrees C; dew point 17 degrees C; altimeter 30.20 inches Hg.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov