Cessna 310R accident near Augusta, Kansas, May 24, 1998
On May 24, 1998 at about 8:15 am local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N5247J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Augusta, Kansas (Augusta Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the current local weather conditions and his failure to maintain a climb after takeoff. Factors related to the accident were the fog, the powerlines, and spatial disorientation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1998 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kansas · Augusta Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5247J · no longer on the register · serial 310R0812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he became disoriented in the fog. The airplane contacted powelines southwest of the departure end of the airport. The powerlines were slightly below the airstrip field elevation. The airplane then traveled approximately 3/4 of a mile prior to impacting the terrain. It then continued to travel approximately 900 feet prior to contacting trees, coming to rest, and being destroyed by fire. The pilot received a weather briefing just prior to the takeoff. He was not issued, nor did he request current local conditions.
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: 5,500 hours in all; 425 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1998; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3AU at 8:13 am
- Destination: IND Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 am from 3KM, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.