Cessna 310R accident near Gulf Of Mexico, April 11, 1983
On April 11, 1983 at about 5:18 am local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N87498, was destroyed in an accident near Gulf Of Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- April 11, 1983 · about 5:18 am local time
- Place
- Gulf Of Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N87498 · no longer on the register · serial 05596
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FLEW FROM MOBILE, AL TO PENSACOLA, FL, WHERE A PASSENGER ENPLANED FOR A FLT TO COLUMBUS, MS. AFTER THE PASSENGER DISEMBARKED AT COLUMBUS, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON AN IFR FLT PLAN BACK TO MOBILE AT AN ALTUTUDE OF 7000 FT. REPORTEDLY, THE FLT PROGRESSED NORMALLY UNTIL 2235 CST WHEN MEMPHIS CENTER PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PLT TO CONTACT HOUSTON CENTER. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE PLT & REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WERE TO NO AVAIL. THE ACFT CONTINUED OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. AT 2315 CST, THE PLANE BEGAN DESCENDING FROM 7000 FT, AND AT 2318, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AS THE ACFT DESCENDED THRU 3500 FT. LATER, PERSONNEL ON AN OIL COMPANY VESSEL FOUND A WING TIP FROM THE ACFT. THE PLT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED & THE ACFT WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,017 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: GTR Columbus MS at 4:01 am
- Destination: MOB Mobile AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 am from MOB
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.