# NTSB ATL84FA038: Cessna T210M, N761VK, Banner Elk, NC, November 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 5, 1983, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Banner Elk, NC
- Coordinates: 36.159072, -81.869888 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1591&lon=-81.8699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6232
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6232/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA038

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT OBTAINED WX FOR ASHVILLE & HICKORY, NC & FOR THE TRI-CITY ARPT, ALL OF WHICH WERE 30 TO 54 MI FROM BANNER ELK, NC. AT THAT TIME, HE TOLD THE BRIEFER THAT THERE WERE CLOUDS AT BANNER ELK, BUT HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET OUT ALL RIGHT. THE ACFT DEPARTED TO THE NORTHWEST, BUT CRASHED A SHORT TIME LATER, ABOUT 1/2 MI WEST FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. IMPACT OCCURRED ON DOWNHILL TERRAIN WHILE IN A STEEP DIVE ON A HEADING OF 160 DEG. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3833 FT. SOME WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENG SURGED 2 OR 3 TIMES, THEN SPEEDED UP & WAS RUNNING AT IMPACT. ANOTHER WITNESS, A STUDENT PLT, STATED THAT THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL THRU-OUT THE FLT. ALL WITNESSES AGREED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN THE CLOUDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. ACCORDING TO AN NTSB WX STUDY, THE CLOUD BASES WOULD HAVE BEEN AT ABOUT THE 4000 FT LEVEL. WITNESSES STATED THAT AN OVERCAST WAS APRX 'HALFWAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,' OBSCURING THE PEAKS. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. STUDENT PLT NOT ENDORSED FOR X-COUNTRY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N761VK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761VK-2014-11-18), registration cancelled 2014-11-18, S/N 21062551, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062551
- Airframe hours: 1272
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Conecuh Developers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 3, 1984, 1 hours before
- Departed: 5A7, BANNER ELK, NC
- Destination: AWO, AUBURN, AL
- Airport: 5A7, Elk River, runway 30, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 2, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 498 total, 176 in this make and model, 459 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Observed at: TRI

## 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 19831105057849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831105057849A), Nov 5, 1983: Cessna T210K, Banner Elk, NC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Crashed into side of a cloud obscured mountain shortly after takeoff. Expired student permit. No endorsements.

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.

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