Cessna 310 accident near Decatur, Texas, May 12, 2001
On May 12, 2001 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 310, registered N6748X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Texas (Decatur Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the left main wheel brake which was locked for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2001 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Texas · Decatur Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- N6748X · no longer on the register · serial 310-0048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed the airport to the west to practice upper air work. Upon return to the airport, the commercial pilot receiving instruction entered the traffic pattern. The flight instructor reported that the approach appeared to be "normal," and the twin-engine airplane touched down on the centerline. After the main landing gear touched down, the airplane began to veer 20 degrees to the left. The instructor took control of the airplane and applied full right rudder; however, this had no effect. The instructor then applied full throttle and as the left main landing gear exited the runway, the airplane became airborne. The airplane then struck two runway signs, and the instructor reduced the throttles to idle and the mixture controls to the cut-off position. The airplane touched down in the grassy area between the runway and parallel taxiway collapsing the landing gear. The airplane slid about 400 yards and came to rest upright on the parallel taxiway. Examination of the runway revealed a single skid mark veering left to where the airplane exited the runway.
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: 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: 1,528 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,528 as pilot in command; 990 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 11, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2000; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wise Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: 8F7 Decatur TX at 4:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,900 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.