Cessna 310Q accident near Buffalo, New York, July 19, 1995
On July 19, 1995 at about 6:00 am local time, a Cessna 310Q, registered N310JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, New York (Buffalo International airport). 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
The pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the right main landing gear. Pilot fatigue was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1995 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Buffalo, New York · Buffalo International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310Q · all 310Qs on the register
- Registration
- N310JM · registry record · serial 1011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane initially touched down on runway 32 with approximately 3981 feet remaining. Runway 32 was 5376 feet long and 150 feet wide. The pilot stated that initial contact with the runway was 'a little harder than usual' and the airplane bounced. He added power, and the airplane began to 'float.' When he reduced power, the right wing struck the ground. The investigation revealed that during the landing sequence, the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot had stated to FAA inspector(s) that during initial touchdown, he was 'glad this flight was over, he was getting tired.' According to the pilot, he had started work at approximately 1400 and had flown to Albany at about 1830.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,408 hours in all; 243 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 3,339 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1994; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-VO (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALB Albany NY at 4:45 am
- Destination: BUF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 5,376 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:11 am from BUF
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.