Cessna T-310P accident near Colorado Sprngs, Colorado, July 19, 1998
On July 19, 1998 at about 6:48 pm local time, a Cessna T-310P, registered N5833M, was destroyed in an accident near Colorado Sprngs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of a portion of the right engine exhaust stack, and the ensuing fuel fire in the right engine nacelle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1998 · about 6:48 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Sprngs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-310P · all T-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5833M · no longer on the register · serial 310P-0133
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While at 13,700 feet msl during climb, the pilot observed flames inside the right cowling. The fire continued to escalate, and the pilot made a forced landing in a field. Upon landing, the right landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed a disparity in size and condition between the two engine exhaust stacks. The right exhaust stack was stainless steel, with six inches missing from the bottom section, and several sections that were welded and cracked. The left exhaust stack was Inconel, and had no weld patches or cracks. Both engines were remanufactured/zero timed in November of 1997, and were installed on January 8, 1998. Each engine had a 100-hour inspection performed on June 9, 1998. According to the mechanic who performed the majority of the maintenance work, the aircraft was purchased in May of 1996 with Inconel exhaust stacks, and when he performed the 100-hour inspections, he believed that the airplane left his shop with the Inconel stacks on each engine. The pilot stated that he observed no abnormalities in the exhaust stacks during the preflight prior to departure. No information was found during the investigation to indicate when the stainless steel exhaust stack was installed.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,752 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1998; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: ABI Abiline TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from COS, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.