Cessna 310L accident near Cedar Key, Florida, December 21, 1988
On December 21, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310L, registered N2251F, was destroyed in an accident near Cedar Key, Florida. It was a business 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
- December 21, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310L · all 310Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2251F · no longer on the register · serial 310L-0051
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT PERSONNEL FAILED TO TIGHTEN A FUEL LINE AT THE FUEL PRESSURE SWITCH ON LEFT ENGINE RESULTING IN FUEL LINE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN FLIGHT. AN INFLIGHT FIRE BURNED THROUGH A FUEL CROSSFEED FUEL LINE WHICH COULD NOT BE SHUTOFF BY THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED WATER IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELING.
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: 2,110 hours in all; 1,365 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,940 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,857 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-V (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQR Sarasota FL at 7:32 pm
- Destination: TLH Tallahassee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from GNV, 53 miles away
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.