Cessna 310L accident near New Cumberland, West Virginia, May 14, 1988
On May 14, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310L, registered N2220F, was destroyed in an accident near New Cumberland, West Virginia (Herron airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Cumberland, West Virginia · Herron · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310L · all 310Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2220F · registry record · serial 310L0020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS DOING LOW PASSES DOWN RWY 04 WHEN ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE STRUCK A LARGE BIRD AFTER THE SECOND PASS JUST WHEN HE WAS STARTING TO CLIMB ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE RWY END. THE PLT SAID THAT THE BIRD SHATTERED THE WINDSCREEN CAUSING THE PLT FACIAL INJURIES AND THE DISLODGING OF HIS EYEGLASSES. THE PLT TURNED BACK TO LAND ON RWY 22; HOWEVER, HE MISTAKENLY ALIGNED THE ACFT WITH RWY 19. HE STRUCK A TREE SHORT OF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON A COURSE ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE BOTH ENGINES SEPARATED AND DAMAGED 2 PARKED ACFT AND 3 PARKED CARS. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM THE AIRPORT BEFORE IT TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO LAND. THE ACFT AND A GROUND SEARCH DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,271 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3,118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,392 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,050 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO88FA047.