# NTSB CHI85FA157: Cessna 210L, N35592, Muncie, IN, April 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1985, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Muncie, IN
- Coordinates: 40.190097, -85.389572 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1901&lon=-85.3896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA157

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight weather advisories - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - hazardous weather advisory - not issued, atc personnel(fss) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF AT 1125 EST AFTER RECEIVING A WX BRIEFING. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE FORECAST WX FOR THE DESTN BCM WORSE & A SIGMET (1E) WAS ISSUED. AT 1444, THE PLT CONTACTED FT WAYNE FSS & HAD HIS VFR FLT PLAN EXTNDD 1 HR. HE NEITHER REQUESTEDNOR RECEIVED UPDATED WX INFO, WHICH INCLUDED FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR ICING, TURBC & THUNDERSTORMS. AT APRX 1500, BFR IMPACT,THE ACFT WAS SEEN COMING OUT OF A SNOW STORM IN AN UNCONTROLLED DSCNT. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVR AN AREA APRX 1-1/2MI LONG. AN EXAM REVEALED THE L WING, L HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & RUDDER HAD SEPARATED FROM OVERLOAD FAILURE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE L WING HAD FAILED UPWARD & STRUCK THE EMPENNAGE DRG SEPN. NO PRE-ACDNT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. ACCORD-ING TO AVAILABLE WX INFO, CLD BASES AT THE ACDNT SITE WERE 2000' MSL (APRX 1100' AGL), TOPS AT 10,000' MSL, VIS ZERO IN CLDS & GREATER THAN 3 MI BELOW CLDS IN SNW SHWRS, FRZG LVL NEAR 3000', MOD TO SVR TURBC BELOW 4000', MOD TO SVR ICING ININ CLDS & IN PRECIP ABOVE THE FRZG LVL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N35592 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21060001
- Airframe hours: 1653
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TIO-520-L 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jayco Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 1984, 25 hours before
- Departed: MCN, MACON, GA
- Destination: GSH, GOSHEN, IN
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 590 total, 221 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 25 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIE, 1 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 19850407010809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850407010809A), Apr 7, 1985: Cessna 210L, Muncie, IN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into an area of snow squalls, icing and turbulence. Sustained an inflight airframe failure.

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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