# Accident 20110422006459A: Cessna 210D, Altavista, VA, April 22, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 2011, 21:46 local time
- Place: Altavista, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.1142° N, 79.3078° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1142&lon=-79.3078&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3963Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3963Y-2015-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 210D (registry code 2073414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 294 total, 75 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11FA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA258) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110422006459A

## Narrative

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

N3963Y, A C210, CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT NEAR THE STAUNTON RIVER. WEATHER CONDITIONS IMC.  WITNESS' ALL STATE AIRCRAFT WAS AT LOW ALTITUDE.  LOW FOG REPORTED BY ALL WITNESS' WITH MISTING RAIN.  CONTACT WAS MAINTAINED WITH ROANOKE TOWER.  THE AIRPLANE WAS SEVERLY FRAGMENTED AND ITS DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED ALONG A PATH ABOUT 200' LONG AND 50' WIDE.

## 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 ERA11FA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA258), Apr 23, 2011: Cessna 210D (N3963Y), Altavista, VA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in actual night instrument conditions.

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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