# NTSB BFO90FA045: Cessna 210N, N6481N, Shady Grove Cor, VA, May 10, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 1990, 02:50 local (06:50 UTC) - Place: Shady Grove Cor, VA - Coordinates: 38.269657, -77.650009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2697&lon=-77.6500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 6 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 5, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 11545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA045 ## Probable cause VFR FLIGHT BY THE NON-INSTUMENT RATED PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE RECOVERING FROM AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, LOSS OF THE VACUUM SYSTEM, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - vacuum system - inoperative (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - wing - overload - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON VFR FLT AT NGT FM MANTEO, NC TO WINCHESTER, VA. HE STARTED THE FLT EARLIER THAN ORIGIN- ALLY PLANNED AFTER LEARNING WX WAS FORECAST TO DETERIORATE. WHEN ACFT DID NOT ARR, SEARCH WAS INITIATED. IT WAS FND ON 5/17/91 IN REMOTE AREA NR SHADY GROVE CORNER, VA. INV REVEALED RGT WING SEPD IN FLT; WING WAS FND ABT 700' EAST OF WHEREACFT IMPACTED GND. MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FND WEST OF IMPACT POINT. METALLURGICAL EXAM SHOWED WING SEPD FM OVERLOAD. RCRDD RADIO INFO REVEALED PLT HAD ENCTRD RAIN. RADAR DATA REVEALED THAT BFR ACDNT, ACFT WAS HDG NE AT 2100' MSL. IT CLIMBED TO2400', TURNED NORTH, DSCNDD TO 2000' & TURNED WEST, THEN DSCNDD TO 1500' BFR RADAR CTC WAS LOST. RADAR CTC ENDED LESS THAN 1 MI FM CRASH SITE. ABT 29 MI ENE AT QUANTICO, 0255 EDT WX WAS IN PART: 1300' BKN, VIS 3 MI IN RAIN & FOG, WND FM 230 DEG AT 12 KTS. EXAM INDCD NO ROTATIONAL DMG OF DRCTNL GYRO OR TURN COORDINATOR GYRO, ONLY SLGT RUBBING OF ATTITUDE GYRO & NO SCORING OF VACUUM PUMP VANES, THOUGH ALL RCVD HVY IMPACT DMG & DIRT WAS PACKED IN VACUUM PUMP PORTS/CAVITY. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6481N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6481N-1993-08-02), registration cancelled 1993-08-02, S/N 21063055 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N - Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 63055 - Airframe hours: 3383 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Professional Pilot Services - Registered owner: Inabelle M. Wright - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 3, 1989, 61 hours before - Departed: MQI, MANTEO, NC - Destination: W16, WINCHESTER, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 468 total, 24 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Night/dark - Wind: 230° at 12 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: NYG, 29 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 19900510016649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900510016649A), May 10, 1990: Cessna 210N, Shady Grove Cor, VA, Destroyed, 6 fatal. VFR pilot encountered rain. Got into clouds. Lost control. Pulled aircraft apart. May have lost vacuum pump. 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.