Cessna 310K accident near Angleton, Texas, February 27, 2011
On February 27, 2011 at about 1:35 am local time, a Cessna 310K, registered N3816X, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Angleton, Texas (Brazoria Cty/Tx Gulf Coast Reg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a night instrument approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2011 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Angleton, Texas · Brazoria Cty/Tx Gulf Coast Reg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310K · all 310Ks on the register
- Registration
- N3816X · no longer on the register · serial 310K0216
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot requested and was cleared for an area navigation global positioning system instrument approach. Night visual flight conditions prevailed. According to radar data, the pilot intercepted the inbound course and descended to 800 feet above ground level, at which point radar contact was lost. The airplane collided with trees and impacted terrain 2.6 miles from the airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had no recollection of 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 approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 4,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-V (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Arthur Hale Consulting/Instruction, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SJT San Angelo TX
- Destination: LBX Angleton TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from LBX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.