Cessna 310 accident near Redlands, California, September 8, 1984
On September 8, 1984 at about 2:52 pm local time, a Cessna 310, registered N381LS, was destroyed in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1984 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- N381LS · no longer on the register · serial 310H0123
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GND WITNESSES OBSVD AN INITIAL ERRATIC TAKEOFF GND ROLL. AFTER THE ACFT REACHED 200 FT IT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE ACFT STALLED AS IT TURNED LEFT, ENTERED INTO AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND CRASHED. THE POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE COCKPIT/CABIN AREA. THE ENGINE EXAM DISCLOSED UNIDENTIFIED CONTAMINATES IN THE FUEL METERING UNIT; ONE FUEL NOZZLE WAS PLUGGED. AN ANNUAL INSP WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED. A NON-CERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT OCCUPIED THE LEFT FRONT SEAT. THE CERTIFICATED PVT PILOT, WHO DOES NOT HOLD A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, OCCUPIED THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT; HIS CLASS III MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 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.