History of Flight
On November 21, 2021, about 1920 mountain standard time, a Cessna T310R, registration N310JA, was destroyed when it collided with terrain near Chadron, Nebraska. The flight was a personal operation conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries.
The airplane had landed at Chadron Municipal Airport (CDR), Chadron, Nebraska, where it dropped off a passenger and refueled. Approximately 40 minutes later, it departed from runway 30 in dark night visual meteorological conditions. Airport security video captured the takeoff roll and liftoff. Automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated that after climbing to about 200 ft, the airplane turned right and descended into rising terrain.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot had flown two legs the day before the accident. On November 20, 2021, the pilot departed his home airport around 1134 and returned at about 0023. He departed again about 6 hours later, arriving at CDR around 0630 on November 21, then flew to Flying Cloud Municipal Airport (FCM) in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He departed FCM about 1704 central standard time and arrived back at CDR around 1843. About 40 minutes later, the accident flight departed.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multi-engine land and airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA medical examination was on July 27, 2020. At that time, he reported 445 total hours of civil flight experience. He had reported hay fever and high blood pressure to the FAA and used losartan to treat his blood pressure. No significant abnormalities were noted during the exam, and he was issued a third-class medical certificate with a requirement to wear corrective lenses.
A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated 502.3 total hours of flight experience as of November 20, 2021. He had about 83 hours in the accident airplane make and model. In the 30 days before the accident, he had flown about 10 hours, with about 7 hours in the 24 hours preceding the crash.
Meteorological Information
Local airport personnel reported that the night was dark with no visible horizon at the departure end of the runway.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The initial ground impact occurred at an elevation of about 3,347 ft above mean sea level (msl), on an approximate heading of 350°. Wreckage debris was scattered over a distance of 600 ft beyond the initial impact point. A postcrash fire consumed most of the airplane. The debris distribution indicated a nearly-wings-level, slightly nose-down, high-speed impact. Ground scars from the propeller blades of both engines were present and consistent with rotation at impact.
Although much of the airframe was consumed by fire, examinations of the flight controls revealed no preimpact anomalies. Both engines were examined and showed no preimpact anomalies. Fuel was found in each engine's fuel distribution system. The propeller damage to both left and right engines was symmetrical, suggesting the engines were producing similar power at impact.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Western Pathology Consultants. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force injuries due to acute coronary thrombosis, and the manner of death was accident.
The FAA Forensic Sciences laboratory conducted toxicological testing on postmortem specimens from the pilot. Chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine that can cause drowsiness, was detected. The FAA guidance states that chlorpheniramine is acceptable for flying if used no more than 1–2 times per week and 5 days have elapsed before flying. Dextromethorphan and its metabolite dextrorphan were also detected; this cough suppressant can cause drowsiness and nausea and is disqualifying, with a minimum 48-hour waiting period before pilot duties. Loratadine (Claritin) and its metabolite desloratadine were found; loratadine is a nonprescription nonsedating antihistamine acceptable for FAA medical certification. Losartan, an antihypertensive, was detected and is acceptable for FAA medical certification; the pilot had reported this medication on his most recent medical exam.