ATL02LA056

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 210L · Atlanta, GA · February 27, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 27, 2002, 17:18 local (22:18 UTC)
Place
Atlanta, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N115CWCessna 210L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 25, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Atlanta FSDO-11
FAA report
20020227006049A
Case key
54274

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point and excessive airspeed on landing resulting in the airplane going off the end of the runway, on-ground collision with an embankment, and subsequent nose over.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding - roll
Proper touchdown point - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Airspeed - excessivePilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot was at 4,500 feet three miles from his destination airport when he was cleared to land. He elected not to use flaps due to a 11 knot crosswind and winds gusting at 19 knots. The pilot activated the speed brakes, extended the landing gear, and touched down long and fast on the runway. He initiated light braking action to bleed off airspeed and noticed that he was crossing an intersecting runway. He thought about making a go-around, but noted his airspeed was 60 and he could see the end of the runway. He attempted additional braking action and the airplane went off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and nosed over.

Factual narrative

On February 27, 2002, about 1718 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210L, N115CW, registered to Able To Be There, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight crashed on landing at Fulton County Airport-Brown Field, Atlanta, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Melbourne, Florida, about 1350.

According to the controller at the Fulton County Tower, the pilot came in high and fast. The airplane appeared to touch down on the runway with about 2,100 feet of runway remaining. He did not observe any signs of braking action until the airplane was about 100 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and down an embankment.

The pilot stated upon reaching the Atlanta area he was asked by approach control if he would accept a vector over Hartsfield International Airport at 4,500 feet which he acknowledged. He was subsequently turned over to Fulton County Tower about three miles from the airport and cleared to land straight in to runway 26. He applied the speed brakes and extended the landing gear upon reaching gear extension speed. He elected not to make a no flap landing due to winds and flared the airplane at about 120. Once on the runway he started light braking action to bleed off airspeed and noticed that he was crossing the intersection of runway 31/14. He though about initiating a go-around but noted his airspeed was 60 and he could see the end of the runway. He attempted more braking action and the airplane went off the end of the runway and down an embankment and sustained damage to the tail section, landing gear and both wings. When asked if he experienced any pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction he said no, it was simply a pilot error accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N115CW
Reported as
Cessna 210L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21060520
Airframe hours
3,947
Engine
Continental IO-550, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Able To Be There
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 10, 2001 · 81 hours before
Departed
MLB · Melbourne, FL
Destination
FTY · Atlanta, GA
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
FTY · Fulton County Airporty, runway 26, 5,796 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
146 total · 114 in this make and model · 48 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 19 knots, gusting 19
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
30 °F, dew point 7 °F
Altimeter
30.18 inHg
Observed at
FTY

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.