Cessna 310D accident near Christiansburg, Virginia, May 1, 1991
On May 1, 1991 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 310D, registered N6632T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Christiansburg, Virginia. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE. CONTRIBUTING WAS AN OBSTRUCTED AIR FILTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1991 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Christiansburg, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310D · all 310Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6632T · no longer on the register · serial 39032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT IN ABOUT 2 YEARS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN TO THE DESTINATION WHERE IT WAS TO BE USED FOR SALVAGE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE EN ROUTE, THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH BEFORE IT LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE OTHER ENGINE, SO HE DID A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY WHERE THE ACFT STRUCK A TRUCK. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE RIGHT ENGINE AIR FILTER WAS OBSTRUCTED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,830 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: U.S. Air Salvage
The flight
- Departed from: N70 Perkasie PA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: OA6 Johnson City TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ROA, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.