# NTSB CHI02LA066: Cessna T210N, N4785U, Chicago, IL, January 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 22, 2002, 10:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Location: 41.7856° N, 87.7527° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL (MDW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7856&lon=-87.7527&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54083/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54083 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA066 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - rotation - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4785U), registered now, S/N 21064816, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21064816 - Airframe hours: 1500 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20020122005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020122005969A), Jan 22, 2002: Cessna T210N, Chicago, IL, No damage. (-23) Pilot initiated take off from mdw rwy 31L. Aircraft veered to the left, became airborne and immediately yawed to the left. After becoming airborne,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54083. 786 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164263&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 4, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164264&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF 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.