Cessna 310R accident near Ada, Minnesota, January 5, 2003
On January 5, 2003 at about 2:47 am local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N37221, was destroyed in an accident near Ada, Minnesota (Twin Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. A low ceiling was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 2003 · about 2:47 am local time
- Place
- Ada, Minnesota · Twin Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N37221 · no longer on the register · serial 310R0961
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees and terrain during a non-precision instrument approach to land in instrument meteorological conditions, which had variable ceilings below published minimums based upon the closest weather reporting station 27 nautical miles southwest of the airport. The pilot stated he was engrossed in maintaining airspeed, and the passenger reported the pilot was too busy looking for the runway. The pilot further reported the accident could have been avoided if he had landed at his alternate airport.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 336 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 811 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 2002; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,670 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-EB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSTO520EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPF Spearfish SD
- Destination: D00 Ada MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 3,103 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from FAR, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.