# NTSB BFO88FA026: Cessna 210N, N6401N, Quantico, VA, March 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1988, 10:17 local (15:17 UTC)
- Place: Quantico, VA
- Coordinates: 38.519824, -77.289451 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5198&lon=-77.2895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11361/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FA026

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - stabilizer - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ABT 25 MI SOUTH & INBOUND TO DCA WHEN THE PLT RPRTD AN ENCTR WITH SNOWSHWRS WHICH WERE PART OF A COLD FRONT. HE ASKED & WAS CLRD TO DSCND TO 2500 FT SO HE COULD MAINT VMC. RADAR DATA SHOWED, THE ACFT DSCNDD PAST 2500 FT TO 1300 FT. ABT 16 MI SOUTH OF DCA, THE PLT SAID HE WAS REVERSING COURSE TO GET OUT OF THE SNOWSHWRS. HE ASKED & WAS CLRD TO CLIMB ON TOP OF THE WX, BUT (DUE TO TRAFFIC) WAS RESTRICTED TO 5500 FT. THE PLT ASKED TO GO TO THE NEAREST VMC ARPT; HOWEVER, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST AFTER THE ACFT HAD CLIMBED TO 4600 FT. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN IN-FLT BREAKUP OCCURRED & WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT DSCND FROM THE CLOUDS IN PIECES. THEY SAID THERE WERE STRONG WINDS, SNOW & A LOW OVERCAST WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE WINGS & STABILIZERS HAD SEPD IN FLT FROM OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS 1ST CHECKED OUT IN TYPE ACFT ABT 3 MOS EARLIER; SUBSEQUENT FLTS IN TYPE ACFT WERE MADE WITH AN INSTRUCTOR ABOARD. THIS WAS THE PLT'S 1ST FLT IN TYPE ACFT WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR ABOARD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6401N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6401N-2014-11-12), registration cancelled 2014-11-12, S/N 21062977, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N
- Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062977
- Airframe hours: 2694
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L3 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Atlantic Aero
- Registered owner: Creed R Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 1987, 100 hours before
- Departed: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC
- Destination: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 256 total, 33 in this make and model, 119 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 340° at 20 knots, gusting 29
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCAF, 1 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 19880320005879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880320005879A), Mar 20, 1988: Cessna 210N, Quantico, VA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Encountered snow showers. Tried climbout on top. VFR pilot lost control. Spatial disorientation. Spiral dive. Broke

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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