# NTSB BFO91FA072: Cessna 210N, N2112S, Petersburg, VA, August 2, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1991, 10:06 local (14:06 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.209144, -77.50093 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2091&lon=-77.5009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11630
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91FA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11630/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91FA072

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE ENGINE WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, landing
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL AND WITNESSES REPORTED IT WAS NEAR THE END OF THE 3060 FOOT RUNWAY, WHEN IT LIFTED OFF. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED SLOWLY AND STRUCK TREES ABOUT 2000 FEET PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS WHO ARRIVED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE SHORTLY AFTER THE CRASH ENCOUNTERED THE PILOT WHO ASKED HIM TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. THE WITNESS NOTICED THE SWITCH WAS SET AT THE LEFT MAGNETO POSITION. THE PILOT HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT. THE INVESTIGATION INCLUDED AN OPERATIONAL TEST OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EXCEED 2400 RPM ON BOTH MAGNETOS, AND NO MORE THAN 2100 RPM ON THE ONE MAGNETO. A CHECK OF THE ENGINE TO MAGNETO TIMING REVEALED THE MAGNETOS WERE TIMED ABOUT 10 DEGREES OUTSIDE THE SPECIFIED TIMING PARAMETERS. THE ENGINE WAS RETIMED TO SPECIFICATION AND IT WAS OPERATED TO 2500 RPM ON BOTH MAGNETOS, 2400 RPM ON ONE MAGNETO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2112S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2112S-1992-01-13), registration cancelled 1992-01-13, S/N 21061075 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 2900
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert L. Pope
- Registered owner: Robert L. Pope
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1990, 182 hours before
- Departed: PTB
- Destination: ISM, KISSIMMEE, FL
- Airport: PTB, Petersburg Municipal, runway 32, 3,060 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,018 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIC, 999 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 19910802031369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910802031369A), Aug 2, 1991: Cessna T210N, Petersburg, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lifted off near end of runway and struck trees on climbout. Magneto timings wre off btc. Mag switch on left mag.

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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