Cessna 310Q accident near Half Moon Bay, California, March 26, 1987
On March 26, 1987, a Cessna 310Q, registered N7603Q, was destroyed in an accident near Half Moon Bay, California. 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
- March 26, 1987
- Place
- Half Moon Bay, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N7603Q · no longer on the register · serial 310Q0538
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING NORTHWEST OVER WATER ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST ON AN IFR CLNC, THE PLT RPRTD TO THE SECTOR CONTROLLER (CTLR) 'WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.' THE CTLR INQUIRED ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PLT THEN STATED, 'GOING DOWN FAST, OUT OF CONTROL.' THE CTLR OBSERVED THAT THE ACFT WAS LOSING ALT RAPIDLY & INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO TURN RIGHT TO 090 DEG FOR VECTORS TOWARD THE SHORELINE; THE PLT RESPONDED, 'WE'RE GOING IN.' NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PLT. THE CTLR NOTED THE ACFT'S TRANSPONDER CODE WENT INTO A COAST MODE & THE PRIMARY TARGET WENT INTO A SLOW LEFT TURN. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT AFTER IT HAD TURNED TO A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING. COAST GUARD HELICOPTERS ARRIVED OVER THE AREA OF THE ACDNT AT ABOUT 1700 PST. THE HELICOPTER AIRCREWS FOUND AN OIL SLICK, A LNDG GEAR & OTHER REMNANTS OF THE ACFT; HOWEVER, THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE ACFT SANK & WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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: 1,120 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: MRY Monterey CA at 11:52 pm
- Destination: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.