# Accident 20020810038219A: Cessna 210L, Lacon, IL, August 10, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2002, 12:30 local time
- Place: Lacon, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.0192° N, 89.3864° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0192&lon=-89.3864&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3UF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3UF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 210L (registry code 2073448, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Reported engine: CONT IO520L
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 362 total, 225 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA251) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020810038219A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON AUGUST 10, 2002 AT APPROX. 1300 CST, THE APPROPRIATELY RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED AURORA, IL (ARR) ENROUTE TO MT. HAWLEY, IL (3MY). CRUISING AT 4500-5000 FEET ALTITUDE, THE PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT INTO MT. HAWLEY UTILIZING THE AUTOPILOT NOSE DOWN FUNCTION. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THE AUTO PILOT CONTROL PANEL BECAME HOT AND THE PILOT REPORTED SMELLING SMOKE. THE PILOT INITIATED A GEAR UP EMERGENCY LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD 3 MILES NE OF LACON, IL. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A CORNFIELD, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LOWER NOSE STRUCTURE, BOTH WING LEADING EDGES, AND THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.

## 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 CHI02LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA251), Aug 10, 2002: Cessna 210L (N3UF), Lacon, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight decision to perform an intentional gear-up precautionary landing instead of continuing to the next available airport. A factor to the accident was the corn crop.

## Other reports on N3UF (2)

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

- [Incident 19980607025959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980607025959I), Jun 7, 1998: Cessna 210L (N3UF), Peoria, IL, Minor damage. The airman attempted to abort takeoff on a 3600 foot runway at Peoria-mt. Hawley, IL. The aircraft came to rest approximately on quarter mile off the opposite…
- [Incident 19861019077609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861019077609I), Oct 19, 1986: Cessna 210L (N3UF), Peoria, IL, Minor damage. Gear up landing, found gear warning malfunctioned.

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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