Cessna 310I accident near Aurora, Colorado, January 28, 2014
On January 28, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 310I, registered N8133M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Aurora, Colorado. 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
Loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310I I, built 1964 · all 310Is on the register
- Registration
- N8133M · no longer on the register · serial 310I0133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported that while in cruise flight, both engines experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot selected an open field and conducted a forced landing. Due to rough terrain, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that the reason for the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion, as he did not verify fuel quantity prior to departure. The pilot requested his local fixed base operator to fill his main fuel tanks, which did not occur. The pilot stated that he should not have assumed the fueling had occurred. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,528 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,770 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: October 16, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 5,099 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 5,817 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 5,817 hours total
- Operator: Flying Fools LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KFTG Denver CO at 9:56 pm
- Destination: KCOS Coloradosprings CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point -2°F (-19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from KAPA, 5 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.