Cessna 310 accident near Selma, Alabama, April 13, 2022
On April 13, 2022 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 310, registered N7733Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Selma, Alabama (Craig Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of maintenance personnel to properly rig the rudder trim system after reinstallation and pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection after recent maintenance, which resulted in an inability to adequately maintain directional control during the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2022 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Selma, Alabama · Craig Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 Q, built 1970 · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- N7733Q · no longer on the register · serial 310Q0233
- 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 airplane had been painted and the rudder reinstalled before the accident flight. He stated that immediately after takeoff he noticed that he needed to use significant left rudder to maintain directional control. He executed a precautionary landing on the airport property, landing hard in the grass at a 45° angle to the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage and the nose landing gear fractured during the landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the rudder trim system was significantly out of rig. The pilot was unable to provide any maintenance records relating to the rudder removal and reinstallation. It is likely that the rudder and/or its trim system was installed incorrectly following the airplane’s repainting, which resulted in the pilot’s difficulty maintaining directional control and inability to make a normal landing on the runway. Although the pilot indicated that he performed the preflight checklist before takeoff, he stated that he may not have checked the control trims that are part of that checklist. It is likely that, had the pilot completed a preflight control check before the flight, he would have identified the improperly rigged rudder trim system.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Not inspected
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,312 hours in all; 312 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 3,986 as pilot in command; 2,341 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,564.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2020; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 1,600 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 1,600 hours total
- Operator: Jupiter Flight Service And Investing LLC
The flight
- Destination: FTY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 8,014 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from SEM
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEM 131855Z AUTO 16009G15KT 8SM SCT044 26/18 A2995 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on October 19, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.