On June 22, 1990, a Cessna 310 (registration N522S) was involved in an aviation accident near Moraine, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain visual reference of the runway environment due to terrain features that blended with the airport background, resulting in an impact with a levee. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft struck a levee while approaching the runway, shearing off the main landing gear before skidding to a stop along the runway surface.
What happened
During the final phase of flight, the aircraft impacted a levee situated just beyond the approach end of the landing runway. The collision resulted in significant structural damage, specifically shearing off the main landing gear. Following the impact, the aircraft skidded along the ground and came to a halt approximately two-thirds of the way down the length of the runway.
The pilot reported that visual contact with the runway had been established prior to the incident. However, the levee was not clearly visible because it blended into the surrounding airport background terrain. At the last moment, the passenger urged the pilot to initiate a go-around or pull up, but the aircraft struck the terrain before any evasive action could be completed.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain visual reference of the runway environment due to terrain features that blended with the airport background, resulting in an impact with a levee.
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