Cessna 310J accident near St. Johns, Michigan, October 1, 2010
On October 1, 2010 at about 2:16 pm local time, a Cessna 310J, registered N3051L, was substantially damaged in an accident during uncontrolled descent near St. Johns, Michigan (Tripp Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure by the pilot to attain/maintain a climb rate for undetermined reasons during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2010 · about 2:16 pm local time
- Place
- St. Johns, Michigan · Tripp Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310J · all 310Js on the register
- Registration
- N3051L · no longer on the register · serial 310J0051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the flight was normal and he maneuvered the multi-engine airplane onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane yawed slightly to the right and the pilot attempted a go-around at about 100 feet above ground level. He noted that there was a lack of engine power from the right engine. The pilot arrested the descent with power from the left engine, but the airplane impacted terrain adjacent to the runway. A postaccident examination of the right engine was limited to verifying engine compression, which was confirmed to be normal.
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 engine power (partial) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 999 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 943 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,419 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JYM Hillsdale MI at 1:45 pm
- Destination: 39T St. Johns MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,509 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from ALM, 16 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.