NTSB Factual Report

On July 14, 2010, about 0855 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Cessna 310K, N6909L, exited the side of the runway during an aborted takeoff at El Monte Airport (EMT), El Monte, California. Lightning Aircraft Corporation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the right horizontal stabilizer. The local personal flight departed El Monte about 0845. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he was conducting touch-and-go landings during a post annual maintenance flight. The pilot reported that after touchdown, he retracted the flaps and increased power when the airplane pulled to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and reduced power to idle; the airplane continued to the right and exited the runway onto the soft ground. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.

A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed that the pilot holds a private pilot certificate in single-engine land aircraft. The pilot’s flight logbook indicated a multi-engine endorsement for solo flight, which was issued on December 24, 1984. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector-in-charge (IIC) that he had 2,500 total hours of flight time, and about 1,200 hours in the airplane make and model involved in the accident. In the past year, the pilot flew 4 hours in the Cessna 310.

An inspection of the airplane by FAA maintenance inspectors noted no engine or flight control system abnormalities.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll.