- Date
- January 22, 2002, 10:55 local (16:55 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4785UCessna T210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20020122005969A
- Case key
- 54083
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot excessive rotation during takeoff and the crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said that on takeoff roll on runway 31L at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), he accelerated to 65 KIAS and rotated approximately at the intersection of runway 22L. The pilot said the rotation was more than desired. He said he attempted to hold 10 degrees nose up pitch attitude. Immediately after liftoff the airplane began to simultaneously yaw to the left and drift to the left. He said the airplane was unresponsive in all axes as he applied hard right aileron, right rudder, and nose down elevator. The pilot said the airplane reached an estimated height of 20 to 30 feet and began settling after passing over taxiway F. The airplane impacted into a dry pond bed in southwest quadrant of the airport. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The reported winds at MDW were 200 degrees magnetic at 13 knots.
Factual narrative
On January 22, 2002, at 1055 central standard time, a Cessna T210N, N4785U, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted into an empty water retention pond during takeoff from runway 31L (3,859 feet by 60 feet, dry concrete) at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted on an instrument flight rules plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and three passengers on board reported no injuries. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was en route to Plymouth, Indiana.
In his written statement, the pilot said that he was on takeoff roll. He said he accelerated to 65 KIAS and rotated approximately at the intersection of runway 22L. The pilot said, "[The] Aircraft wanted to fly ... that is nose lifted, and I held normal elevator back pressure. [The] Rotation was more than desired. [I] Attempted to hold 10 degrees nose up pitch attitude. Immediately after liftoff the aircraft began to simultaneously yaw to the left and drift to [the] left. Aircraft was unresponsive in all axes as hard right aileron, right rudder and nose down elevator was applied. Aircraft reach[ed] an estimated height of 20 to 30 feet and began settling after passing over taxiway F. [The] Aircraft impacted in [a] dry pond bed in southwest quadrant 22R and taxiway F."
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at MDW. The nose wheel was broken aft. The front and bottom engine cowlings were bent aft and wrinkled. The nose wheel well and firewall were bent aft. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. The airplane's left wing tip was broken aft along the longitudinal rivet line. The right main landing gear was bent upward. The bottom of the left horizontal stabilizer was bent inward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
At 1053, the reported winds at MDW were 200 degrees magnetic at 13 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4785U
- Reported as
- Cessna T210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21064816
- Airframe hours
- 1,500
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard W. Owen
- Registered owner
- Satellite Aero, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 13, 2001
- Departed
- MDW · Chicago, IL
- Destination
- C65 · Plymouth, IN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MDW · Midway Airport, runway 31L, 3,859 × 60 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 19, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,307 total · 24 in this make and model · 2,209 as pilot in command · 41 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- MDW, 5 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 786 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.