Cessna 310F accident near Corvallis, Oregon, September 2, 1991
On September 2, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 310F, registered N6788X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corvallis, Oregon (Corvallis Muni. 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
A DISCONNECTED AIR INDUCTION LINE, AND THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO EXECUTE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MULTI-ENGINE AIRCRAFT, HIS OVERALL LACK OF FAMILIARITY AND LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRCRAFT WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corvallis, Oregon · Corvallis Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310F · all 310Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6788X · no longer on the register · serial 3100088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TAKEOFF THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CLIMB PERFORMANCE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH ENGINE WAS AFFECTED. HE CHOSE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND THEN EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED A DITCH. SUBSEQUENT TEST RUN OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED A DISCONNECTED AIR INDUCTION LINE WITH DEGRADED PERFORMANCE ABOVE 60% POWER. THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED AFTWARD TIP CURL AND POLISHING. THE PILOT REPORTED ONLY 35 HOURS OF TOTAL MULTI-ENGINE FLIGHT TIME OF WHICH ONLY 3 HOURS WERE IN THE CESSNA 310 AND NO CESSNA 310 FLIGHT TIME WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS.
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: 513 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 442 as pilot in command; 127 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S07 Bend OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,065 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.