Cessna 310R accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, March 11, 1992
On March 11, 1992 at about 9:36 pm local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N87355, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1992 · about 9:36 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N87355 · no longer on the register · serial 310R0526
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS GIVING MULTI-ENGINE INSTRUCTION TO A STUDENT. HE BRIEFED THAT ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, AND HE ALSO BRIEFED THE RECOVERY PROCEDURE. ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE INITIATED THE SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE, AND THE STUDENT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE INSTRUCTOR DID NOT REACT PROMPTLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT A LOSS OF CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF OF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TORE AWAY FROM THE AIRFRAME, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tuscaloosa Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,499 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 pm from TCL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.