Probable cause
The pilot's impairment/incapacitation (cardiovascular) resulting in the pilot being unable to control the airplane.
NTSB analysis
A witness reported that she was outside of her home when she saw the two-engine airplane flying low over her house. The airplane flew with "the left wing up and the right wing down," the engines sounded like they were "running at full power," and the airplane was "descending very fast." As she watched the airplane clear trees and disappear from view, she heard a "thud" which was followed by a plume of white and gray smoke. She then ran towards the smoke, and found the downed airplane in a heavily wooded area. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. The pilot did not hold a current Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate and had been hospitalized for congestive heart failure several months prior to the accident. The pilot’s cardiologist stated the decedent should not have been flying with his medical condition.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08FA177 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 31, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Latrobe, Pennsylvania
- Nearest airport
- Arnold Palmer Regional (LBE)
- Highest injury
- Fatal
- Fatal injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna T310R
- N-number
- N3180M
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.