Cessna 310J accident near Morgan, Utah, June 5, 2004
On June 5, 2004 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 310J, registered N415SW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morgan, Utah (Morgan County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the poor friction value on the runway rendering braking action inadequate. Contributing factors include the excessive approach speed, and the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2004 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Morgan, Utah · Morgan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310J · all 310Js on the register
- Registration
- N415SW · no longer on the register · serial 310J0143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was performing a standard approach to the runway. The pilot stated that the approach was flown with an approach speed of "105 to 110 knots." In a telephone interview, he stated that 35 degrees of flaps were used. The airplane touched down "500 to 700 feet from [the] approach end" of the runway and braking began almost immediately. Braking action was ineffective and it was increased with no result. The airplane drifted to the right, leaving the runway environment and impacting a hangar and fuel truck, causing substantial damage. According to the owner's manual for the airplane, approach speed should be 102 mph (88 knots). The pilot said that the braking action was poor due to "seal coating" of the runway. An FAA inspector described the runway surface as having the consistency of "putty." A "coal-tar sealer/rejuvinator" was applied to the runway by Brewercote in October of 2003. According to the specifications provided by the Utah Division of Aeronautics, the coal-tar sealant "is to seal the pavement from oxidation, and to rejuvenate the asphalt binder in place." It is composed of a minimum of 35 percent coal-tar pitch conforming to ASTM D-490, RT-12, Standard Specification for road Tar.On June 18, 2004, a skid test was conducted on runway 03/21. The test revealed skid values ranging from 2.4 to 10.9 and an average value of 6.3. The calculated MU-meter frictional value which ranged from .035 to .160 with the average MU-meter frictional value of .093. According to the Operations Friction Correlation Chart, this friction rating is poor.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 145 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 7,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 4, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470U (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U76 Mountain Home ID at 4:10 pm
- Destination: 42U Morgan UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from OGD, 2 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.