Cessna 310R accident near Mansfield, Ohio, July 11, 1990
On July 11, 1990 at about 2:50 am local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N3463G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mansfield, Ohio (Mansfield Lahm). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNAVOIDABLE COLLISION WITH A DEER WHILE TAKING OFF WHICH BENT THE DRAG BRACE AND PREVENTED IT FROM LOCKING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE NIGHT CONDITIONS WHICH REDUCED THE PILOTS VISIBILITY TO THE ILLUMINATED AREA OF THE LANDING LIGHTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1990 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Mansfield, Ohio · Mansfield Lahm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3463G · registry record · serial 310R0843
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF AT NIGHT AND A DEER BECAME VISIBLE IN HIS LIGHTS. HE ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE ENOUGH TO MISS THE ANIMAL, HOWEVER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND STRUCK IT WITH THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE GREEN LIGHT WENT OUT ON THE LANDING GEAR AND THE AIRPLANE DIVERTED TO A AIRPORT WITH LONG RUNWAYS. DURING LANDING ROLLOUT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE FAA REPORTED THE DRAG BRACE ON THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WAS BENT AND THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,043 hours in all; 1,897 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 11,407 as pilot in command; 484 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Urban Industries, INC
The flight
- Departed from: DFI Defiance OH at 2:45 am
- Destination: MFD Mansfield OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.