Cessna 310L accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 6, 1991
On June 6, 1991 at about 10:52 pm local time, a Cessna 310L, registered N3337X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana (Fort Wayne Muni airport). 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
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A BEARING BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1991 · about 10:52 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Wayne, Indiana · Fort Wayne Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310L · all 310Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3337X · no longer on the register · serial 310L0187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT MAIN REMAINED RETRACTED WHEN THE GEAR WERE SELECTED DOWN, AND THE PILOT LANDED ON TWO WHEELS. EXAMINATION OF THE HUNG GEAR SHOWED AN EXTERNAL LOCK RING ON THE STRUT PISTON ASSEMBLY HAD UNSEATED, ALLOWING THE STRUT TO OVEREXTEND AND JAM IN ITS WELL. THE INNER BEARING WHICH MOUNTS NEXT TO THE LOCK RING GROOVE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. THE OPPOSITE LANDING GEAR HAD THE SAME INVERSE INSTALLATION. BOTH INNER BEARINGS WERE NEW PARTS INSTALLED DURING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE MANUAL PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CORRECT ORIENTATION OF THE INNER BEARINGS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,696 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-V (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 28J Palatka FL at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 12,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from FWA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.