Lost Nation Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Saturday, May 15, 2004 5:23 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed from runway 23 in night instrument metrological conditions, for an instrument flight rules flight. At 0521:21, the pilot radioed to air traffic control that he was climbing through 900 feet, for 4,000 feet. At 0521:44, radar data indicated the airplane was at 1,000 feet, heading 232 degrees, and at a ground speed of 145 knots. During the next 45 seconds, the airplane turned about 15 degrees, climbed to an altitude of at least 1,900 feet, and had slowed to a ground speed of 121 knots, before radar contact was lost. Several witnesses reported hearing the sound of a "low" "loud" airplane, followed by an explosion. One witness observed the airplane about tree top level as it descended toward the ground. He noticed a bluish-green, red light illuminated and stated that he did not observe any smoke or fire coming from the airplane. The airplane impacted railroad tracks that were located about 2 1/2 miles southwest of the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. During the 6 months prior to the accident, the pilot had accumulated about 460 hours of total flight experience, which included about 225 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. In addition, during that time, the pilot had logged about 25 hours of flight time under "actual" instrument meteorological conditions. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 16 miles south-southwest of the accident site reported: winds from 270 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 2 1/2 statue miles in rain and mist, ceiling 700 feet broken, temperature 61 degrees F, dew point 57 degrees F, altimeter 30.09 in/hg. A witness near the accident site described the weather as dark and hazy, with a "misty rain."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff. Factors in this accident were clouds and the night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 523
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Willoughby
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44094
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413837N
Event Location Longitude 0812453W
Event Location Airport Lost Nation
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LNN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 626
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 517 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID BKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 583
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18642
NTSB Notification Source FAA Great Lakes Region
NTSB Notification Date May 15 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2005 6:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cleveland, Ohio

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3161M
NTSB Number NYC04FA123
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 310R-163
Certified Max Gross Weight 5535
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 250
Airframe Hours 5100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Carto Flight Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 38580 Jet Center Pl.
Aircraft Owner City Willoughby
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44094
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LNN
Departure City Willoughby
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 521
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DAY
Destination City Dayton
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 17 2005 12:39PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 5028
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --