Cessna 310R accident near Rawlins, Wyoming, October 27, 1994
On October 27, 1994 at about 2:28 am local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N69350, was destroyed in an accident near Rawlins, Wyoming (Rawlins Muncipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING CLEARANCE WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE HIGH TERRAIN, DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S NOT OBTAINING/ MAINTAINING THE PROPER CLIMB RATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1994 · about 2:28 am local time
- Place
- Rawlins, Wyoming · Rawlins Muncipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N69350 · no longer on the register · serial 310R0095
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO HAD NOT FLOWN INTO THE RAWLINS AIRPORT, WAS ADVISED BY A PILOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT TO DEPART TO THE SOUTHWEST TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT DEPARTED UNDER DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS FROM RUNWAY 22 AND TURNED WEST TOWARDS HIGH TERRAIN. THE NET GAIN IN ELEVATION FROM TAKEOFF TO IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OVER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME, WHEREAS THE ALL ENGINE CLIMB CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT FULLY LOADED SHOULD HAVE BEEN TWICE THAT AMOUNT. DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION OF THE ENGINES REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A RIDGE LINE APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET BELOW THE RIM OF THE SADDLE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 715 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 610 as pilot in command; 194 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1994; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: HDN Hayden CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 7,008 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from RWL, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.