On August 6, 1986, a Cessna 310C (registration N310MT) operated by Robert L. Taylor was involved in an aviation accident near Vancouver, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane crashed three-quarters of a mile from the runway end after takeoff in fog. The pilot was not IFR rated. Passengers reported no power issues but loss of ground reference. Airspeed indicators showed a 10 mph low error.
Accident Details
An aircraft departing from a private airstrip in early dawn fog impacted terrain approximately three-quarters of a mile from the runway end. The pilot was not instrument flight rules (IFR) rated. A positive rate of climb was not established after takeoff.
Witness and Pilot Accounts
Passengers reported no sensation of power problems but noted a complete loss of ground reference at liftoff. The private pilot in the right seat recalled that the indicated airspeed just before ground contact was about 100 mph. However, calculations based on ground propeller marks indicated the airspeed at ground contact was 155 mph.
Aircraft Configuration and Systems
Landing gear and flaps were retracted after takeoff. The airspeed indicator was removed and bench-checked; it indicated a steady 10 mph low at all speeds. The pitot-static system was checked and found clear of pre-impact debris or foreign material. The attitude gyro was damaged by impact, preventing determination of pre-impact nose attitude reference.