Cessna 310Q accident near Liberal, Kansas, November 6, 1986
On November 6, 1986 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N510SU, was destroyed in an accident near Liberal, Kansas (Liberal Muni airport). 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
- November 6, 1986 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Liberal, Kansas · Liberal Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N510SU · registry record · serial 0401
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN JUST OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 17 AT LIBERAL, KS, WHILE ON A RETURN FLT TO TEXAS. DARK NIGHT CONDITONS PREVAILED AND NO HORIZON VISUAL CUE WERE AVAILABLE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. RELIANCE ON FLT ATTITUDE INSTRUMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN NORMAL DEPARTURE ATTITUDES. EXAM OF THE ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE OF THE ENGS, AIRFRAME, FLT CONTROLS, OR FLT ATTITUDE INSTRUMENTS. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. NO RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE TO DETERMINE HIS FLIGHT TIME.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LBL Liberal KS at 2:55 am
- Destination: Perryton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 7,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from LBL, 5 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.