N310JM

Substantial
None

CESSNA 310Q S/N: 1011

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, July 19, 1995
NTSB Number
NYC95LA165
Location
BUFFALO, NY
Event ID
20001207X04066
Coordinates
42.899600, -78.889434
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the right main landing gear. Pilot fatigue was a related factor.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N310JM
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
1011
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
310Q C310
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2

Analysis

On July 19, 1995, about 0200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, N310JM, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Buffalo International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The business flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the FAA, the airplane initially touched down on runway 32, approximately 50 feet beyond the intersection of runways 23 and 32 (with approximately 3981 feet remaining). Runway 32 was 5,376 feet long and 150 feet wide.

The pilot stated to the FAA Inspector that his:

...initial contact with the runway was "a little harder than usual" and he bounced and noticed that something did not feel right. He added power and the aircraft began to "float." When he reduced power he felt the right wing going down, and around taxiway Q...the right wing touched the ground...he...remembered saying to himself during initial touchdown that he was glad this flight was over, he was getting tired. He had started work at approximately 2:00PM (1400)and had flown to Albany at around 6:30PM (1830).

During the landing sequence, the right main landing gear collapsed. The investigation revealed that there were 3 gouges in the runway pavement where the "right prop" first contacted the pavement abeam the intersection of runway 32 and taxiway Q. The airplane continued on the runway for approximately 1500 feet, departing the right side of the runway before coming to rest in the grass.

At the time of the accident, the pilot had 3,407.6 total flight hours, 1,236.6 night flight hours and 243 flight hours in this make and model airplane.

The BUF 0211 weather was; 8,500 scattered, 10,000 broken, visibility 15 miles, temperature 68 degrees F, dew point 57 degrees F, wind 290 degrees, 7 knots, altimeter 29.87 inches Hg.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC95LA165