# Accident 19970828026859A: Cessna T210J, Tucson, AZ, August 28, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 1997, 21:30 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Avra Valley Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1993° N, 110.9507° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1993&lon=-110.9507&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2280R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2280R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna T210J (registry code 2073440, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210J
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520H
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,317 total, 606 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA312) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970828026859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE DECIDED TO LAND AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT THAT HAD A LIGHTED RUNWAY INSTEAD OF HIS USUAL DESTINATION.  THE LANDING WAS MADE UNEVENTFULLY, BUT DURING THE TAXI TO THE RAMP AREA THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS POSITION ON THE UNLIGHTED TAXIWAY AND RAN OFF THE TAXIWAY INTO A LARGE DRAINAGE DITCH.  THE DITCH WAS NOT MARKED, NOR WAS IT MENTIONED IN THE AIRPORT REMARKS IN THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY OR IN THE NOTAMS.  THE DITCH WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE A DEPTH OF APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE RUNWAY, WITH AN ESTIMATED SLOPE IN EXCESS OF 35 DEGREES.  A POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DID NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN IT WAS NOTED THAT ONE CELL OF THE BATTERY ONLY CHARGED TO 50 PERCENT. EXAMINATION OF THE TAXIWAY FOUND SKID MARKS JUST PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTING THE PAVED SURFACE OF THE TAXIWAY.  THE PILOT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LAYOUT OF THIS AIRPORT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA312), Aug 29, 1997: Cessna T210J (N2280R), Avra Valley, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot became lost/disoriented during his taxiing into the ramp area. Factors in the accident were the lack of taxiway lights, the pilot's lack of familiarity with the layout of the airport, and…

## Other reports on N2280R (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19771104034539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771104034539A), Nov 4, 1977: Cessna T210J (N2280R), Glenwood Sprgs, CO, Substantial damage. Piper PA-32 damaged by falling debris from wind sock pole. No bkn,rwy,or taxiway lighting.
- [Accident 19730509011239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730509011239A), May 9, 1973: Cessna T210J (N2280R), Riverton, WY, Substantial damage. Plt concerned with l x-wind gusting to 45K.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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