Cessna 310G accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, November 7, 1985
On November 7, 1985 at about 10:29 pm local time, a Cessna 310G, registered N7962Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida (Ft. Pierce airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- November 7, 1985 · about 10:29 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · Ft. Pierce
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310G · all 310Gs on the register
- Registration
- N7962Q · no longer on the register · serial 310G-0029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AC DEPARTED ON A FERRY FLIGHT WITH THE LANDING GEAR CLAMPED IN THE DOWN POSITION AND LEAKING FUEL SYSTEM FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL ARRIVAL AT THE DESTIN ATION AIRPORT. THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE LEFT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS NOT FEATHERED. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK AND AUX TANK WERE FOUND EMPTY. THE PILOT SELECTED 45 DEGREES OF FLAP AND THEN THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED. THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS NOT FEATHERED. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND THE AUX TANK WAS FOUND FULL . THE AC THEN STRUCK THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND THE LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF AND THE AC SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 893 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 810 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,211 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,990 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYGF Freeport OF
- Destination: FPR Ft.Pierce FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:29 pm from VRB, 21 miles away
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.