Cessna 310Q accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, May 11, 1998
On May 11, 1998 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N7795Q, was destroyed in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire (Boire Field Airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management which led to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1998 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire · Boire Field Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N7795Q · no longer on the register · serial 310Q0405
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had been flown about 3 hours and 50 minutes since being refueled and was observed on approach to the airport. A witness stated the airplane appeared to be right of centerline and about 200 feet above the trees, when its descent rate increased and it descended wings level into the trees. No pre-impact damage was found to the engines and the propeller blades sustained minimal scratching. The main tanks and auxiliary tanks had ruptured and there was no evidence of fuel in the vicinity of these tanks. Approximately 11 1/2 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing locker fuel tank and the wing locker fuel transfer switch was found in the OFF position. The left engine fuel selector valve was in the left auxiliary position and the right engine fuel selector valve was in the left main position; however, the valve was found in the right main position and the push pull rod was bent at the point of impact damage on the wing. Fuel controls for both engines displayed no fuel and the screens were clean.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 6,524 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CKB Clarksburg WV at 8:10 pm
- Destination: ASH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 pm from ASH, 2 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.