Cessna 310Q accident near Montgomery, New York, December 14, 2006
On December 14, 2006 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N8FH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montgomery, New York (Orange County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance performed on the airplane by maintenance personnel, and the failure of the mechanic with an inspection authorization (IA) to verify the maintenance work performed, which resulted in a reverse elevator trim system, and subsequent loss of control and collision with trees during the initial climb from takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2006 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, New York · Orange County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N8FH · registry record · serial 310Q1035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight was the airplane's first flight after an annual inspection was completed. After takeoff, the airplane's pitch oscillated as it climbed approximately 200 to 500 feet agl. The airplane then made a left turn, descended, and impacted trees upright. Review of maintenance records, and an interview with a mechanic that worked on the airplane, revealed that the airplane's elevator trim actuator was removed and replaced as part of the maintenance associated with the annual inspection. In total, four mechanics worked on the airplane, one of which held and inspector authorization (IA), and endorsed the aircraft logbooks at the completion of the annual inspection. Examination of the right horizontal stabilizer revealed that the upper elevator trim cable crossed the lower elevator trim cable as they traveled from the elevator trim actuator, to the pulley located at the center of the empennage. Review of a Cessna Aircraft Company Illustrated Parts Catalog revealed that there should be no crossing of the elevator trim cables traveling from the elevator trim actuator, to the pulley at the center of the empennage. In addition, the elevator trim tab was found in the full (10-degree) nose down position.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC07FA047.