Glenwood, NM, USA
N28836
CESSNA 310
The accident airplane was seized by authorities on December 20, 2007, and then reported missing/stolen about two weeks later. The airplane wreckage was discovered by hikers in May 2008, about 711 nautical miles from the airport where it was last seen. A fuel receipt was found, indicating that the airplane had been refueled with $100.62 worth of fuel, approximately half-way between the accident site and its departure airfield. The wreckage was reportedly scattered in a heavily forested area. Additionally, the airplane is reported to have impacted numerous trees before coming to rest at the base of a large tree. The accident site was absent indications of a post-crash fire. A review of weather conditions showed a strong cold front and associated deep trough aloft moving through the region on December 21. Additionally, patchy instrument flight rules/marginal visual flight rules with light rain or snow over western New Mexico and northeastern Arizona existed. The high terrain near the accident site (about 10,000 feet) was likely obscured at the accident time. An AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information), weather advisory had been issued for mountain obscuration and moderate turbulence for the accident region. The commercial pilot and instructor certificates for the pilot had been revoked, and records indicate his last flight medical was on March 15, 1995.
On December 21, 2007, about 1500 mountain standard time (date and time are estimated), a twin-engine Cessna 310, N28836, collided with mountainous terrain near Glenwood, New Mexico. The non-certificated pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane's registration is listed as pending. No flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross country flight. Reports indicated that the airplane was last seen at the Miami Municipal Airport (MIO), Miami, Oklahoma on December 20, 2007. According to officials, the airplane was seized by authorities, on December 20, 2007. The airplane was then reported as missing/stolen on January 5th, 2008. The airplane wreckage was discovered by hikers in May 2008. The wreckage was reportedly scattered in a heavily forested area. Additionally, the airplane is reported to have impacted numerous trees before coming to rest at the base of a large tree. The accident site was absent indications of a post-crash fire. The wreckage lies within the Gila Wilderness area, New Mexico, about 711 nautical miles from MIO. A review of refueling records, indicate that the aircraft was fueled with $100.62 worth of fuel on December 21, 2007, (1249 CST), at Borger, Texas. An examination of records on file with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airmen's record branch in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, indicates that the pilot held a single-engine commercial airplane pilot's license. A flight instructor certificate, with an expiration date of August 31, 1975, is also listed. Additionally, a mechanic and ground instructor certificates were on file. The file also shows the pilot and instructor certificates had been revoked. The record lists his last FAA second-class flight medical was on March 15, 1995, at which time the pilot reported a total of 1,500-hours flight time. The accident site was in excess of 125 nautical miles from surrounding weather radar facilities, which resulted in poor low-level weather coverage of the region. However, light precipitation east and southeast of the accident area were noted. Additionally, the Weather Depiction and Radar Summary charts indicated patchy instrument flight rules/marginal visual flight rules with light rain or snow over western New Mexico and northeastern Arizona. Weather conditions showed a strong cold front and associated deep trough aloft moving into New Mexico on December 21. The data also indicated that the front was likely located in vicinity of the accident area around the estimated accident time. Specifically, west-northwest winds were in the vicinity and west of the accident location, and southwesterly winds to the east The infrared satellite temperature data was enhanced to show cloud tops near the mountain-top level in the accident area and above. The high terrain near the accident site (about 10,000 feet) was likely obscured at the accident time. An AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information), weather advisory had been issued for mountain obscuration and moderate turbulence for the accident region.
A loss of control for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the marginal weather conditions in the area at the time of the accident.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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