Cessna 310C accident near Calhan, Colorado, August 23, 2010
On August 23, 2010 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310C, registered N896H, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Calhan, Colorado. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots'failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2010 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Calhan, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310C · all 310Cs on the register
- Registration
- N896H · no longer on the register · serial 35996
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Friends and family members reported that the two pilots departed with the objective of completing a flight review for the commercial pilot. According to radar data, the airplane was maneuvering in the practice area, when the airplane was lost on radar. The airplane impacted open terrain in a wings level attitude consistent with a flat spin. An examination of the airplane, its related systems, and both engines revealed no anomalies. The commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were both experienced in the airplane. Medical and pathological examination of the commercial pilot and CFI revealed no medical or toxicological issues that would have precluded either the commercial pilot or the CFI from operating the airplane in a safe manner prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,425 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,850 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,376 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2009; 5 hours since
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFLY Colorado Spring CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KFLY Colorado Spring CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KCOS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.