Aftermath: High, Heavy and Slow

Monday, August 14, 2017 at 06:45 PM ET

Verified

A Cessna T310R making its final approach to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport (pictured) in Ruidoso, New Mexico, crashed and resulted in five deaths. Sierra Blanca Regional Airport

Key Takeaways:

A Cessna T310R crashed on final approach due to a stall-spin, attributed by the NTSB to the pilot flying too slowly and his limited experience with the aircraft type.
The pilot's inexperience was exacerbated by flying a fully loaded aircraft at a challenging high-density altitude (9,500 feet), likely contributing to misjudgments in approach speed and altitude.
The article highlights the critical importance of precise speed control during landing approaches, especially in demanding conditions, to prevent stalls and maintain aircraft control.

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In June 2010, a Cessna T310R crashed in fine weather while on final approach at Ruidoso, New Mexico. Five people perished, two survived. The survivors were 12 and 16 years old, and I suspect that they were probably in the aftmost seats. Another young person, an 11-year-old boy, was double-belted in the right front seat with his mother.

Parenthetically, FAR 91.107, which concerns seat belts, does not explicitly forbid the practice of double-belting. The rule says everyone (except children under 2) must occupy a seat with safety belts, but does not stipulate that all passengers be in different seats. After this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged the FAA to amend the rule, but the FAA chose not to do so.