Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 310D N6744T

14 March 2000 · Stuart, Florida, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 14 March 2000 at about 19:35 local time, a Cessna 310D registered N6744T was involved in an accident near Stuart, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 19:35
Classification
Accident
Location
Stuart, Florida, United States
Nearest airport
Witham Field (SUA)
Coordinates
27.1893, -80.1908
Aircraft
Cessna 310D
Registration
N6744T
Category
Airplane
Engines
2
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Lantana → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Minor
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
MIA00FA107

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 0 3

Probable cause

the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout, resulting in both airplanes colliding in flight. Contributing to the accident were: 1) inadequate approach/departure control service by ATC approach/departure personnel, and the failure of the radar approach controller to advise the local tower controller of the change in approach procedure for N51ML; 2) the excessive and extraneous radio communications by the local controller which prevented both pilots from providing timely position information during the critical period prior to the midair collision.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the Cessna 310 (N6744T) had been on a right base for runway 7, and at 1433:30, had at the Stuart tower controller's request, verified that it was the Cessna 310 that was turning on final for runway 7. At 1433:33 the controller cleared the pilot of the Cessna 310 to land on runway 7. Previously, the pilot of the Beech A-36 (N51ML) had requested from, and had been cleared by the Palm Beach Arrival Radar North Controller, to execute the global positioning system (GPS) instrument approach to runway 12 at Stuart, and the procedure had been coordinated with the local tower controllers at Stuart. Shortly thereafter however, the initial Palm Beach Approach controller was relieved, and the relieving approach controller issued the pilot of the Beech A-36 a visual approach clearance to Stuart, along with a radio frequency communications handoff to the Stuart (local) tower controller, which the pilot of the Beech A-36 accepted. However, no follow-up coordination had been conducted between the Palm Beach Approach controllers and the local tower controllers to advise that the Beech A-36 was no longer executing the GPS approach to runway 12. Meanwhile, the Beech A-36 was proceeding inbound to Stuart, from its present position, lining up with runway 7. During the same time period, in response to an inquiry, the local controller had become engaged in a conversation about operations near the airport, and the conversation, interspersed with other air traffic control instructions, limited communications contact, while the Cessna 310 and the Beech A-36 were proceeding inbound to the airport. At 1433:58 the pilot of Beech A-36 informed the local tower controller that he was on a 2 mile final for runway 7, and the local tower controller responded that the Beech A-36 had been expected to execute the GPS approach to runway 12. Shortly thereafter, the Cessna 310 and Beech A-36 collided with each other, in flight, in the traffic pattern, while both were approaching to land on runway 07 at Stuart. During the collision Cessna 310 incurred minor damage, but the pilot continued the approach, and landed safely at Stuart. After the collision, the pilot of Beech A-36 terminated the approach and proceeded to North County Airport, where he landed without further incident. Examination of Beech revealed that the left wing spar had been bent.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Aircraft involved

Aircraft Registration Operator Damage
Cessna 310D 310D N6744T - Minor
Beechcraft A36 A36 N51ML - Substantial

Other Cessna 310 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
7 Jul 2000 Cessna 310N
LVJLB
Rio Lujan, Argentina
no coordinates
Columbus Airways, S.a. Fatal 5
20 Jan 2000 Cessna 310Q
N310GG
Spring Branch, Texas, United States - No injuries -
13 Aug 2000 Cessna 310D
N6981T
Watkins, Colorado, United States - No injuries -
18 Feb 2000 Cessna 310R
N87341
Sandusky, Ohio, United States - No injuries -
19 Jul 2000 Cessna 310D
N674FT
Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States - Serious injuries -
6 Jan 2000 Cessna 310N
N70CM
Old Forge, Pennsylvania, United States Tech Aviation Fatal 2

All 1,745 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 May 2000 Aerostar S57-A
N6341V
Windermere, Florida, United States - No injuries -
10 Sep 2000 Cessna 188
N9977G
Tampa, Florida, United States American Outdoor Advertising No injuries -
10 Sep 2000 Grumman AA-5A
N26934
St. Augustine, Florida, United States - Serious injuries -
4 Nov 2000 Cessna 172P
N54729
Inverness, Florida, United States - No injuries -
16 Sep 2000 Grumman AA-5
N7196L
Zephyrhills, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Arthur L. Schaer Minor injuries -
16 Sep 2000 Beechcraft 1900C
N194GA
Miami, Florida, United States Gulfstream International No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States