Cessna 310Q accident near Montgomery, New York, June 4, 1987
On June 4, 1987 at about 1:17 am local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N5527K, was destroyed in an accident near Montgomery, New York (Orange County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- June 4, 1987 · about 1:17 am local time
- Place
- Montgomery, New York · Orange County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N5527K · no longer on the register · serial 31001136
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N5527K CRASHED ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTH OF THE ORANGE CNTY AIRPORT SHORTLY AFTER A NIGHT TKOF FM RUNWAY 21. DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE IFR FLT INCLUDED A RIGHT TURN OF 130 DEGREES, TO 340 DEGREES MAGNETIC TO INTERCEPT V-58 AND CLIMB TO 5000 FT. THE PLT CONTACTED BOSTON ARTCC, APPARENTLY AFTER TKOF. WHEN ASKED IF HE WAS AIRBORNE THE RESPONSE FM THE PLTWAS GARBLED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS AND RADAR CONTACT WAS NOT ESTABLISHED. WITNESSES RPTD HEARING A LOW FLYING ACFT BUT DID NOT SEE IT. THEY RPTD MISTY/FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS. A PARTIAL OBSCURATION WITH A CEILING OF 1000 FT OVCST, 4 MILES VISIBILITY, FOG AND HAZE WAS RPTD 7 MILES EAST OF THE ACDT SITE. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. DESTRUCTION OF THE ACFT PRECLUDED DETAILED SYSTEMS DOCUMENTATION. ENGINE TEARDOWNS DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. TREE LIMBS OVER CRASH SITE WERE BROWN-STAINED AS IF BY FUEL.
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: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-DCE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AGC West Mifflin PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from SWF, 7 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.