# NTSB ATL05LA137: Cessna T210, N9501Y, Muscle Shoals, AL, July 29, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2005, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Muscle Shoals, AL - Coordinates: 34.745277, -87.610275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7453&lon=-87.6103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62209/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and failure to maintain clearance, which resulted in an in flight collision with a transmission wire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to enter the traffic pattern when the accident occurred. A witness heard the pilot report four miles east of the airport requesting local weather information. The pilot also talked to the witness, who was in the traffic pattern, and advised the witness that he would be entering right traffic for runway 29. The pilot was on a base for runway 29 when the airplane collided with a 161 KV transmission line approximately 95 feet above the ground. The airplane fell to the ground and burst into flames. Tennessee Valley Authority reported an interruption at 1650 on the transmission lines in the area of the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane collided with the ground two miles southeast of Muscle Shoals Airport, in a planted field. The wreckage was located 200 yards west of the transmission lines. Wreckage debris was scattered over an area about 70 feet long and 40 feet wide, and orientated on a westerly heading. The post-accident examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem or component failure. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 29, 2005, about 1650 central daylight time, a Cessna T210, N9501Y, registered to and operated by Western Air Inc, collided with a electrical transmission line and the ground, and burst into flames approximately two miles southeast of Muscle Shoals/Northwest Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Baraboo Wisconsin Dells Airport in Baraboo, Wisconsin, at an undetermined time on July 29, 2005. The pilot was on a cross country flight from Baraboo Wisconsin Dells Airport in Baraboo, Wisconsin and attempting to enter the traffic pattern at Muscle Shoals/Northwest Alabama Regional airport in Muscle Shoals, Alabama when the accident occurred. A witness heard the pilot report his position four miles east of the Muscle Shoals Airport and requested local weather information. The pilot also talked to the witness, who was in the traffic pattern, and advised the witness that he would be entering right traffic for runway 29. The pilot was on a base for runway 29 when the airplane collided with a 161 KV transmission line approximately 95 feet above the ground and subsequently fell to the ground and burst into flames. Tennessee Valley Authority reported a power interruption at 1650 on the transmission lines in the area of the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of records on file with the Airmen Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on October 14, 2004, with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on October 16, 2003, with the restriction, "holder shall wear corrective lenses." The pilot's had accumulated a total of 6,800 flight hours, however his total flight time in the Cessna T210, was not determined, . AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Review of aircraft records on file with the FAA Aircraft Registry, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma revealed the aircraft was currently registered to Western Air Inc. There were no aircraft maintenance log books or maintenance records available for further review. The airplane had been serviced the day of the accident. The airplane had blown out a tire on taxi-way Charlie after landing at Marion Airport, in Marion, Illinois. Maintenance personnel had replaced both tires and one brake line, and refueled the airplane with 41 gallons of fuel. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The Muscle Shoals Airport, Muscle Shoals, Alabama weather surface observation, at 1653, winds variable, at four knots, visibility 10 miles, sky overcast 5,500, temperature 29-degrees, Celsius, a dew-point 21-degrees, Celsius, and altimeter 30.08. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane collided with the ground and burst into flames two miles southeast of Muscle Shoals Airport, in a planted field. The wreckage was located 200 yards west of the transmission lines. Wreckage debris was scattered over an area about 70 feet long and 40 feet wide, and orientated on a westerly heading. The fuselage sustained fire damage which included, the entire left wing, and the right leading edge and inboard section of the right wing. The engine accessories received thermal damage. The crankshaft was rotated, continuity was observed to each valve, and each cylinder expelled air. Two propeller blades were separated from hub with one of the blades bent aft at the mid-section. The third propeller blade was loose inside the damaged propeller hub assembly which was attached to the engine. Propeller strikes were observed on vegetation near the impact area. The post-accident examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem or component failure. MEDICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Alabama State Medical Examiner performed the autopsy of the pilot on August 1, 2005. The reported cause of death was "blunt force injuries." The Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed postmortem toxicology of specimens of the pilot. The results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The airplane was released to the pilot's family on August 10, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9501Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9501Y-2005-12-02), registration cancelled 2005-12-02, S/N 21064524, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210 - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21064524 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Western Air Inc. - Registered owner: Western Air Inc., - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KDLL, Baraboo Wiscons, WI - Destination: KMSL, Muscle Shoals, AL - Airport: KMSL, Muscle Shoals/Northwest Alabam, runway 29, 6,693 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KMSL ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050729016809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050729016809A), Jul 29, 2005: Cessna T210N, Muscle Shoals, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On July 29, 2005, at approximately 1650 central daylight time, a Cessna T210, N9501Y, approaching Muscle Shoals/northwest Alabama regional airport,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.