Cessna 310J accident near Lawrenceville, Georgia, October 30, 2009
On October 30, 2009 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 310J, registered N308J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Lawrenceville, Georgia (Gwinnett County Airport-Brisco). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of aircraft control while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions, as a result of spatial disorientation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2009 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrenceville, Georgia · Gwinnett County Airport-Brisco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310J · all 310Js on the register
- Registration
- N308J · registry record · serial 310J0142
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed from the airport under instrument meteorological conditions on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Weather included a 300-foot overcast cloud layer and 1 mile visibility with light rain and mist. Shortly after takeoff, the air traffic controller lost radio contact with the pilot, and witnesses observed the airplane rolling under full power as it descended out of the clouds. The airplane subsequently collided with a house about 4 miles northwest of the airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction that precluded normal operation. Based on the wreckage and the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident, it is likely that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Last flight review: September 29, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,327 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 4,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: SRB Sparta TN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LZU, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.