Cessna 310C accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, May 22, 1996
On May 22, 1996 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 310C, registered N1813H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico. It was a business 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
loss of total engine power due to fuel exhaustion for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing was a related factor. The worn and leaking fuel system components and inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel were possible factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1996 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Los Lunas, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310C · all 310Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1813H · no longer on the register · serial 35913
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane was fully serviced with fuel (130 gal usable) before takeoff. The pilot planned on a fuel consumption of 25 gph per the manufacturer's data, which would have provided a 1 hour fuel reserve. En route the flight encountered forecasted turbulence. The pilot stated that during descent, both engines 'stopped like fuel starvation.' The airplane was maneuvered for a forced landing on a highway, but due to traffic, a railroad right-of-way was selected. During a wheels-up landing, the right wingtip collided with a boulder. The right wing auxillary fuel tank was compromised, and the fuel line separated from the right tip (main) tank, but there was no physical evidence of fuel at the site. About 1 pint of fuel remained in the right main tank; the left main tank was empty. Both fuel selectors were set for the main tanks. During test runs, the left engine rotated, but was not run due to a fuel leak ('O' ring) at the throttle body. The right engine would only run when an external fuel boost pump was 'ON.' An 'O' ring fuel leak was observed at the engine fuel pump, and the pump exhibited a fuel stain from seepage. The fuel pump and the metering unit (after replacing the 'O' ring) flowed within specifications. Both units appeared to be leaking; they were deteriorated and in need of overhaul to change the rubber components. Time since the last annual inspection was 21 hours.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 7,250 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1995; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,830 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNG Banning CA at 2:45 pm
- Destination: E80 Belen NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from ABQ, 335 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.