Cessna 310R accident near Willoughby, Ohio, May 15, 2004
On May 15, 2004 at about 9:23 am local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N3161M, was destroyed in an accident near Willoughby, Ohio (Lost Nation airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff. Factors in this accident were clouds and the night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2004 · about 9:23 am local time
- Place
- Willoughby, Ohio · Lost Nation · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3161M · no longer on the register · serial 310R-163
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed from runway 23 in night instrument metrological conditions, for an instrument flight rules flight. At 0521:21, the pilot radioed to air traffic control that he was climbing through 900 feet, for 4,000 feet. At 0521:44, radar data indicated the airplane was at 1,000 feet, heading 232 degrees, and at a ground speed of 145 knots. During the next 45 seconds, the airplane turned about 15 degrees, climbed to an altitude of at least 1,900 feet, and had slowed to a ground speed of 121 knots, before radar contact was lost. Several witnesses reported hearing the sound of a "low" "loud" airplane, followed by an explosion. One witness observed the airplane about tree top level as it descended toward the ground. He noticed a bluish-green, red light illuminated and stated that he did not observe any smoke or fire coming from the airplane. The airplane impacted railroad tracks that were located about 2 1/2 miles southwest of the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. During the 6 months prior to the accident, the pilot had accumulated about 460 hours of total flight experience, which included about 225 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. In addition, during that time, the pilot had logged about 25 hours of flight time under "actual" instrument meteorological conditions. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 16 miles south-southwest of the accident site reported: winds from 270 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 2 1/2 statue miles in rain and mist, ceiling 700 feet broken, temperature 61 degrees F, dew point 57 degrees F, altimeter 30.09 in/hg. A witness near the accident site described the weather as dark and hazy, with a "misty rain."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,172 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 318 in the last 90 days; 112 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2003; 250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,535 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LNN Willoughby OH at 9:21 am
- Destination: DAY Dayton OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 5,028 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:17 am from BKL, 16 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.