Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 13, 1995, approximately 1210 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 310D, N6976T, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during a forced landing at Alamosa, Colorado. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the private pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed although the pilot was getting VFR flight following services. The flight originated at Santa Ana, California, at 0830 Pacific daylight time.

Injuries prevented the pilot from being interviewed after the accident. He subsequently submitted the Pilot/Operator Report, upon which the following is based. The pilot said all fuel had been pumped out of the auxiliary tanks and into the main tanks, and the fuel selectors were positioned on the main tanks. He remembered both engines losing power simultaneously, "possibly connected with moving mixture controls (to full rich) prior to landing."

The pilot-rated passenger was interviewed at the hospital. He stated the pilot entered the downwind leg for runway 20 and slowed the airplane by lowering the landing gear and extending flaps to maintain separation with a slower Piper PA-24 ahead of them. As the airplane was turned onto the crosswind leg, the pilot pushed the mixture controls forward and both engines lost power. The airplane was at a low altitude and airspeed, and the pilot attempted to make a landing. The airplane touched down on rough terrain, bounced over a small canal, and impacted the opposite bank in an inverted attitude.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

Examination of the cockpit disclosed the mixture and propeller controls were full forward and the throttles were retarded. The airplane was equipped with electrical boost pumps controlled by 3-position switches to comply with Cessna Multiengine Service Bulletin MEB88-3. Both fuel boost pump switches were found in the HIGH position.

According to the Cessna 310D Supplemental Airplane Flight Manual, the HIGH switch position "supplies sufficient fuel flow to sustain partial engine power and should be used solely to sustain the operation of an engine in the event its engine-driven fuel pump fails...At low power (settings with the boost pump on HIGH), the mixture may have to be leaned as necessary for smooth engine operation...CAUTION: If the auxiliary fuel pump switches are placed in the HIGH position with the engine-driven fuel pump(s) operating normally, total loss of engine power may occur."

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The wreckage distribution was aligned on a magnetic heading of 052 degrees and was approximately 192 feet long. At the beginning of the scar was a ground disturbance containing pieces of a red lens. At the 39 foot mark was a large ground disturbance, and at the 45 foot mark was another small ground disturbance containing pieces of a green lens. At the 90 foot mark was the right main (tip) tank