Cessna 310K accident near El Dorado, Kansas, August 27, 2014
On August 27, 2014 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 310K, registered N101JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near El Dorado, Kansas (El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas airport). It was an other work-use 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
A fatigue failure of the left engine’s throttle cable, which resulted in the loss of left engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2014 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- El Dorado, Kansas · El Dorado/Captain Jack Thomas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310K, built 1966 · all 310Ks on the register
- Registration
- N101JB · no longer on the register · serial 310K0110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger planned on conducting a proficiency flight in the twin-engine airplane. The pilot reported that, after a normal engine run-up and takeoff, they proceeded to another airport to conduct touch-and-go landings. The pilot landed the airplane, and, during takeoff, the airplane drifted left. He then added right rudder and checked his engine instruments and noted that the left engine was not producing full power; however, the airplane was traveling about 110 to 112 mph, so he chose to continue the takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot realized that the airplane was not accelerating or climbing. He then reduced engine power and conducted a forced landing. An initial examination of the airplane revealed that the left engine's throttle cable had broken near the engine connection end. Further examination of the individual wire cable strands revealed fracture surfaces consistent with fatigue. The examination also revealed a shallow circumferential swage on the cable's tube/ball-type connection; however, it could not be determined if the shallow swage was due to improper manufacturing or deterioration of the joint over years/hours of use. The accident is consistent with the loss of left engine power due to a fatigue failure of its throttle cable. The throttle cable time/hours in service could not be determined because maintenance records were not available.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 83.3 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 21.2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,203 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lakepoint Aviation II LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KEQA El Dorado KS
- Destination: KAAO Wichita KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KEQA
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.