Cessna 310K accident near Olive Branch, Mississippi, March 7, 2012
On March 7, 2012 at about 2:43 pm local time, a Cessna 310K, registered N6974L, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Olive Branch, Mississippi (Olive Branch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel leaking from the left engine fuel strainer onto electrical connections after engine start, which resulted in a fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2012 · about 2:43 pm local time
- Place
- Olive Branch, Mississippi · Olive Branch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310K · all 310Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6974L · no longer on the register · serial 310K0074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after starting the left engine, the pilot observed smoke coming from the left engine nacelle. Smoke was then observed in the area of the pilot's rudder pedals. The pilot shut down both engines and exited the airplane. Local personnel responded and extinguished the fire. An examination of the airplane revealed that the left engine and forward wing area were heavily damaged by fire. The most extensive damage was centered around the left engine fuel strainer that was mounted on the engine firewall. Due to the fire damage, the fuel system was not pressurized during the examination. A review of the airplane records revealed no recent maintenance in the area of the fuel strainer. It is likely that fuel leaking from the strainer contacted adjacent electrical connections resulting in the fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 711 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,574 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 3, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS
- Destination: ABI Abilene TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from OLV
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.