# NTSB ATL92FA181: Cessna 210B, N9622X, Andrews, NC, September 15, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1992, 06:45 local (10:45 UTC)
- Place: Andrews, NC
- Coordinates: 35.190017, -83.82051 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1900&lon=-83.8205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA181

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF IN FOGGY CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE PREVAILING FOG AND THE NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT, A PILOT RATED PASSENGER, AND THEIR WIVES WERE TAKING OFF FROM AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, ABOUT 32 MINUTES BEFORE SUNRISE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE RAMP, AND THE DEPARTURE AND APPROACH ENDS OF THE AIRPORT WERE OBSCURED BY GROUND FOG. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT, NOR WAS THERE ANY RECORD OF A WEATHER BRIEFING. A MECHANIC REPORTED THAT HE HEARD THE AIRCRAFT TAKE OFF, THEN HE HEARD ABOUT 5 SECONDS OF SILENCE BEFORE HE HEARD THE AIRCRAFT CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A CORN FIELD IN A STEEP, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, AND WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND FIRE. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 600 FEET SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, AND ABOUT 1,100 FEET SHORT OF THE DEPARTURE END. AN EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER REVEALED EVIDENCE OF ROTATION AT IMPACT. THE ENGINE RAN SUCESSFULLY ON A TEST STAND AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD MENTIONED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP DID NOT WORK ON AN AIRPLANE THAT HE HAD BEEN FLYING; HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF THE PUMP AND GYRO INSTRUMENTS DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9622X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9622X-1993-03-01), registration cancelled 1993-03-01, S/N 21057922 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210B
- Registry model: [Cessna 210B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210b) (registry code 2073410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21057922
- Airframe hours: 2563
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-S 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clontz, R. And Wilson, J.T.
- Registered owner: Clontz, R. And Wilson, J.T.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1992, 50 hours before
- Departed: 6A3
- Destination: RZZ, ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC
- Airport: 6A3, Andrews-Murphy, runway 25, 5,005 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVL, 67 nm away

## 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 19920915036619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920915036619A), Sep 15, 1992: Cessna 210B, Andrews, NC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Departed VFR into thick fog in darkness. Impacted and burned shortly after. Wreckage indicates loss of control.

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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