# NTSB CHI00FA171: Cessna 210J, N3396S, Sumner, IA, June 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2000, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Sumner, IA - Coordinates: 42.840019, -92.090515 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8400&lon=-92.0905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00FA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49508/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00FA171 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with the terrain after flight into adverse weather. Contributing factors were the thunderstorms and lack of instrument certification by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed on impact with a bean field during a cross-country flight. The pilot was not instrument rated. Weather radar indicated that an area of convective activity was present at the time of the accident. A witness reported hearing a low flying plane during a heavy downpour. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 25, 2000, at 1615 central daylight time, a Cessna 210J, N3396S, owned and operated by a non-instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed on impact in a 20-acre bean field. Instrument meteorological conditions with convective activity prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight departed Mason City, Iowa and was en route to Dubuque, Iowa. A witness reported that at 1630 there was a heavy downpour when he heard a plane that sounded very low coming from the northeast. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. He received a third class medical certificate on March 3, 1999 with the limitation of "must wear corrective lenses". Medical certificate information indicated that the pilot accumulated a total time of 2,000 hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane, serial number 21059196, was powered by a Continental IO-520-J engine, serial number 198137-9-J, rated at 285 horsepower. An annual inspection of the airframe and engine was completed on November 23, 1999 at a total airframe time of 3,683.6 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The Waterloo, Iowa automated surface observing system (ASOS), located approximately 12 nm south of the accident site, recorded at 1606, wind 240 degrees at 10 knots gusts to 38 knots; 1/4 sm visibility, heavy thunderstorms, rain showers and fog; scattered layer of clouds at 200 feet agl, broken layer at 4,600 feet and an overcast layer at 9,000 feet; temperature 22 degrees C, dewpoint 21 degrees C; altimeter 29.92 inches. NEXRAD radar showed an area of convective activity near the accident site at 1600. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage path and ground scarring extended approximately 150 feet along a southeasterly direction. Both wings were separated from the airframe and were located along the wreckage path. The empennage was attached to the airframe and control continuity to the cockpit was confirmed. The cockpit area was destroyed. The propeller hub was separated from the engine and buried by its two blades. The blades were twisted and curled. The crankshaft displayed a 45-degree fracture surface aft of the propeller flange. No mechanical anomalies were noted. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was conducted by the Iowa Department of Health on June 27, 2000. FAA toxicological tests results reported 23(mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol, 17(mg/dL, mg/hg) acetaldeyde. The test report also stated, "The ethanol in this case is from postmortem ethanol formation and not from the ingestion of ethanol." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Federal Aviation Administration and Cessna Aircraft Company were parties to the investigation. The wreckage was released to the Bremer County Sheriff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3396S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3396S-2000-11-03), registration cancelled 2000-11-03, S/N 21059196 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210J - Registry model: [Cessna 210J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210j) (registry code 2073439) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21059196 - Engines: Continental IO-520-J 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth R Mott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MCW, MASON CITY, IA - Destination: DBQ, DUBUQUE, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots - Visibility: 1.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 163 °F, dew point 82 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ALO, 9 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 20000625007659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000625007659A), Jun 25, 2000: Cessna 210J, Sumner, IA, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) On a return flight from mason city (mcw) to dubuque (dbq) pilot encountered a severe thunderstorm according to the witness statement from sam james… ## Other investigations on N3396S (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI76FEA29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEA29), Mar 12, 1976: Cessna 210J (N3396S), Anderson, IN, substantial damage 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.