Cessna T310R accident near La Verne, California, September 16, 1988
On September 16, 1988 at about 1:14 am local time, a Cessna T310R, registered N5126J, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Verne, California (Brackett Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 16, 1988 · about 1:14 am local time
- Place
- La Verne, California · Brackett Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T310R · all T310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5126J · registry record · serial 310R0246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TROUBLESHOOTING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL FLOW SYSTEM. DURING THE PREFLIGHT RUN-UP, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL FLOW GAUGE FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS READING TOO HIGH. HE TOOK OFF TO SEE IF HE COULD MAKE AN INFLIGHT DETERMINATION OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN AIRBORNE, THE GAUGE INDICATED A VALUE THAT THE PILOT CONSIDERED EXCESSIVE, SO HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT TO LAND. HE MADE A NO FLAP APPROACH, WITH POWER SET ABOVE TEN INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. THIS CONFIGURATION DOES NOT ALLOW ACTIVATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S GEAR-UP WARNING SYSTEM. THE PILOT DID NOT EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. DURING LANDING FLARE THE PILOT REDUCED POWER, ACTIVATING THE GEAR-UP WARNING HORN. THE PILOT MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS THE STALL WARNING HORN AND LOWERED THE NOSE TO LAND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY.
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
- Flight time: 1,031 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 964 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 4,839 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:14 am from POC
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.