Controlled Flight Into Terrain · NTSB DFW08FA153
CESSNA 310Q — Steamboat, CO
| Date | May 25, 2008 |
| Location | Steamboat, CO |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 310Q |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 26 |
| Pilot total time | 2,100 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | 25 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Mountainous/hilly terrain-Response/compensation - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-(general)-(general)-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Illicit drug-Pilot - F
- Organizational issues-Support/oversight/monitoring-Oversight-Oversight of personnel-FAA/Regulator - F
What happened
The commercial pilot departed on a cross-country flight over mountainous terrain in day, visual meteorological conditions. The pilot had filed a flight plan but it was never activated and an Alert Notification (ALNOT) was issued when the airplane did not reach its destination. The airplane struck trees in a shallow descent into slightly rising terrain at an elevation of 9,800 feet mean sea level, approximately 27 miles east of the departure airport. Examination of the airplane and both engines revealed no mechanical discrepancies. Postaccident toxicology testing was consistent with impairment of the pilot due to his use of marijuana within three hours of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration was aware of multiple convictions of the pilot for alcohol-related offenses, but did not request any documentation of those convictions or additional evaluation prior to issuing the pilot a second-class medical certificate.