Cessna 340 accident near Columbus, Ohio, November 13, 1991
On November 13, 1991 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 340, registered N7672Q, was destroyed in an accident near Columbus, Ohio. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EXECUTION OF AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM; THE PILOT'S LACK OF PROFICIENCY IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE; AND THE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1991 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340 · all 340s on the register
- Registration
- N7672Q · no longer on the register · serial 340-0184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE. HE SAID HE WAS PUTTING THE LANDING GEAR DOWN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINES REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES. THE PILOT DID NOT FEATHER THE PROPELLER AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE. HE HAD NO TRAINING IN THIS AIRPLANE OR ANY OTHER MULTI-ENGINE AIRPLANE IN OVER 5 YEARS. HIS LAST BFR WAS IN A CESSNA 172. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT MANAGE THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM IN THE RECOMMENDED MANNER. A WITNESS SAID THE PILOT USED FUEL FROM THE MAIN TANKS UNTIUL THEY WERE NEARLY EMPTY. HE INGORED FORECASTS OF LIGHT ICING CONDITIONS AND DURING HIS FLIGHT HE REPORTED ICE ACCUMULATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,617 hours in all; 969 in this make and model; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,522 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,653 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1991; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,975 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI0-520K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CHS Charleston SC at 10:02 pm
- Destination: CMH Columbus OH
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 am from CMH, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.