Cessna 310F accident near Lagrange, Indiana, August 19, 2010
On August 19, 2010 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310F, registered N6762X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lagrange, Indiana. It was a personal 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 pilot did not maintain altitude due to his distracted attention to a vibration of unknown origin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2010 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lagrange, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310F · all 310Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6762X · no longer on the register · serial 310F-0062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during cruise flight, he noticed a sudden airplane vibration, decreased controllability, and a loss of altitude. He initially thought that the vibration was coming from the empennage but later thought it was from the left engine. He stated that the engine instrument indications for both engines were normal. He elected to shut down the left engine, but the vibration and altitude loss continued. The pilot performed an off-airport landing to a pasture, and the airplane collided with obstacles. During postaccident examination, no airframe anomalies that would have induced a vibration were noted. Testing of the right engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have induced a vibration or precluded normal operation. The airplane owner's manual performance information indicated that the airplane was capable of climbing at a rate of about 500 feet per minute with one engine inoperative at the conditions that were present at the time of the accident. Given that no anomalies were found with the airframe or the right engine and that the airplane had climb performance capability even with one engine inoperative, it is likely that the pilot was distracted by the vibration and did not maintain altitude.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute (descent)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: USE Wauseon OH at 3:00 pm
- Destination: BWP Wahpeton ND
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from IRS, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.