Cessna 310D accident near Crystal, Minnesota, August 29, 1992
On August 29, 1992 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Cessna 310D, registered N6908T, was destroyed in an accident near Crystal, Minnesota (Minneapolis-Crystal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF/INITIAL CLIMB IN GUSTY, SHIFTING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1992 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal, Minnesota · Minneapolis-Crystal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310D · all 310Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6908T · no longer on the register · serial 39208
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN ITS TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 23, THE GUSTY WINDS SHIFTED TO A DIRECT RIGHT CROSSWIND. THEY REPORTED THE AIRPLANE REMAINED ON THE RUNWAY LONGER THAN USUAL, AND THE NOSE 'WOBBLED' BACK AND FORTH AS IT 'SKIPPED FROM MAIN (LANDING GEAR) TO MAIN.' ONE WITNESS STATED 'THE AIRCRAFT WAS PULLED OFF RIGHT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMMEDIATELY BANKED TO THE LEFT.' THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN A NOSE HIGH, STEEP ('KNIFE-EDGE') LEFT BANK, THEN DESCENDED INTO TREES AND A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. POST-IMPACT FIRE ENSUED. THE MULTI-ENGINE RATED, PRIVATE PILOT'S LOGBOOK INDICATED 347 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, INCLUDING 253 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY. WITNESSES REPORTED 'SQUIRRELY' WINDS AND 'SQUALL LINE' TYPE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 347 hours in all; 253 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 291 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MIC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: CJJ Cresco IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:04 pm from MIC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.