Cessna 310G accident near Ragland, Alabama, January 18, 1986
On January 18, 1986 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Cessna 310G, registered N8983Z, was destroyed in an accident near Ragland, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 1986 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Ragland, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310G · all 310Gs on the register
- Registration
- N8983Z · no longer on the register · serial 310G0083
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WITH SPUTTERING ENGS WAS HEARD CIRCLING OVERHEAD IN LOW OVERCAST SKIES. THE HORIZONTAL TAIL SURFACES SEPARATED IN-FLT AND CAME TO REST APRX 450 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE STUDENT PLT HAD NO INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APRX 3.6 HRS DURING THIS FLT. THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL FLT ENDURANCE OF APRX 3.6 HRS FROM TAKEOFF.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 325 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,617 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,990 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OMN Ormond Beach FL at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 0G6 Bryan OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from BHM, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.