Cessna 310R accident near Ottumwa, Iowa, October 13, 2005
On October 13, 2005 at about 12:41 pm local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N310SK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ottumwa, Iowa. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot misjudged his altitude and airspeed while landing which resulted in the airplane stalling 20 feet above the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's execution of the approach when reported weather conditions were below the minimums required for the approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2005 · about 12:41 pm local time
- Place
- Ottumwa, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N310SK · registry record · serial 310R1353
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane stalled and impacted the runway while landing. The pilot reported that while en route a passenger stated that he was ill. The pilot contacted air traffic control and diverted to a nearby airport. The pilot reported he initiated an ILS approach and told a pilot rated passenger to "report the runway in sight." The pilot stated, "He called my attention to the runway ahead. I saw it and continued the descent." The pilot reported that when over the runway at an altitude of 20 feet, the airplane stalled and impacted the runway. The accident airport weather conditions reported 12 minutes after the accident, were visibility less than 1/4 mile with fog, and a 100 foot indefinite ceiling. This information was being broadcasted over the airport Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). The ceiling and visibility had not changed during the time period starting one hour prior to the accident to two hours after the accident. The pilot reported the weather as being 1/2 mile visibility with a 200 foot overcast ceiling. The minimums for the ILS approach were 1/2 mile visibility and a 200 foot ceiling.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI06CA008.