Cessna 310 accident near Belleville, Kansas, April 2, 1990
On April 2, 1990 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310, registered N18HF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belleville, Kansas (Bellville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE LOSS OF POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1990 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Kansas · Bellville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- N18HF · no longer on the register · serial 310K0152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT BEFORE DEPG ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A LOCAL FLT WITH 1 LNDG. AFTER TURNING INTO FINAL APCH & EXTENDING THE GEAR TO LAND, THE RGT ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT SAID HE CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR & MAG SWITCHES, BUT 'COULDN'T GET RESPONSE UNTIL TOO LATE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS LANDED SHORT OF THE RWY, DAMAGING THE LANDING GEAR, FUSELAGE & BOTH PROPS. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE RPRTD LOSS OF POWER.
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: 2,233 hours in all; 1,586 in this make and model; 2,168 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1989; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-V (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RPB at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from CNK, 20 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.