Cessna 310R and Cessna 185B mid-air collision near Seymour Twp., Wisconsin, September 1, 1998
On September 1, 1998, 2 aircraft, Cessna 310R (N5056J) and Cessna 185B (N100TS), were involved in a mid-air collision near Seymour Twp., Wisconsin. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilots of both airplanes not maintaining visual separation from the other airplane.
the pilots of both airplanes not maintaining visual separation from the other airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1998
- Place
- Seymour Twp., Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5056J · registry record · serial 310R-0176
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 185B · all 185Bs on the register
- Registration
- N100TS · registry record · serial 1850639
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 310R final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported seeing the twin-engine airplane (Cessna 310) climbing on a north-northeast heading. The airplane was operating on an IFR flight plan. The pilot of that airplane contacted air traffic control as it climbed through 2,500 feet above mean sea level. The controller said he had acknowledged the pilot's transmission and then heard an ELT signal. A witness reported seeing a single engine airplane (Cessna 185) flying in a westerly direction. He said the airplanes collided and were '...engulfed in flames...' as they descended toward the ground. Both airplanes impacted the ground at a 90 degree angle about 3/8 mile apart. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the Cessna 185 left wing tip section had collided with Cessna 310 left wing tip fuel tank. The Cessna 185 left wing tip section crushing matched the shape of the wing tip fuel tank.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 185B final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported seeing the twin-engine airplane (Cessna 310) climbing on a north-northeast heading. The airplane was operating on an IFR flight plan. The pilot of that airplane contacted air traffic control as it climbed through 2,500 feet above mean sea level. The controller said he had acknowledged the pilot's transmission and then heard an ELT signal. A witness reported seeing a single engine airplane (Cessna 185) flying in a westerly direction. He said the airplanes collided and were '...engulfed in flames...' as they descended toward the ground. Both airplanes impacted the ground at a 90 degree angle about 3/8 mile apart. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the Cessna 185 left wing tip section had collided with Cessna 310 left wing tip fuel tank. The Cessna 185 left wing tip section crushing matched the shape of the wing tip fuel tank.
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 for the Cessna 310R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,960 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 209 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,894 as pilot in command; 903 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,094 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 19, 1998; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-MB1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EAU Eau Claire WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 185B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,236 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1997; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F18 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLA Wissota WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.