CHI02LA066

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210N · Chicago, IL · January 22, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Rotation - excessivePilot in commandFactor
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterTakeoff

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.