Cessna 310H accident near Lancaster, California, July 26, 1993
On July 26, 1993 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 310H, registered N310HJ, was destroyed in an accident near Lancaster, California (William J. Fox airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain the minimum control airspeed which progressed to an inadverent stall/spin. Factors relating to this accident were fuel exhaustion and the pilot's lack of experience in the accident airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1993 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · William J. Fox · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310H · all 310Hs on the register
- Registration
- N310HJ · no longer on the register · serial 310-0003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITH ABOUT 4.0 HOURS OF FUEL FOR A PLANNED DESTINATION FLIGHT OF 2.0 HOURS. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE IF THE FLIGHT LANDED AT ANY OTHER AIRPORT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE, ABOUT 4 HOURS AFTER THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER AND REQUESTED AND RECEIVED LANDING INSTRUCTIONS. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE FLIGHT AND THE CONTROL TOWER. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINES BEGAN TO SPUTTER, FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFT ENTERING INTO A SPIN. DURING THE SPIN, BOTH ENGINES BEGAN TO DEVELOP POWER WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT AND THAT THE LEFT MAIN FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS SELECTED TO THE CROSSFEED POSITION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR FUEL SPILLAGE.
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: 479 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,048 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 10, 1993; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCN Grand Canyon AZ at 11:02 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 am from WJF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.