On October 5, 1987, a Cessna 310K (registration N3815X) operated by Gary J. Edwards was involved in an aviation accident near Inverness, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Witnesses report the pilot initiated a go-around at runway 19, banked right behind a tree line, and struck trees before impacting the ground inverted. No apparent reason for the maneuver was observed by other pilots.
What happened
According to witness accounts, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver as the aircraft reached the threshold of Runway 19. Immediately after initiating this climb, the pilot broke off to the right, directing the aircraft behind a line of trees while maintaining a steep 60-degree right bank. On the opposite side of the tree line, observers noted that the aircraft struck the trees with its left wing before impacting the ground in an inverted position.
The investigation
Investigation details regarding mechanical examination or specific flight data recorder analysis are not provided in the available source material. The account relies entirely on visual observations from witnesses on the ground and in adjacent airspace.
Findings
A witness operating another aircraft that had just turned off the runway reported no readily apparent reason for the go-around initiation. This suggests the maneuver may have been unexpected or unnecessary from the perspective of other pilots monitoring the situation. The steep bank angle and subsequent tree strike indicate a loss of control or spatial disorientation during the climb-out phase.