# NTSB CHI87FA069: Cessna 210N, N4968C, Bedford Park, IL, January 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 1987, 20:29 local (Jan 30, 1987, 02:29 UTC)
- Place: Bedford Park, IL
- Coordinates: 41.780704, -87.769477 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7807&lon=-87.7695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 19, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13629/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA069

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - instrument light(s) - erratic (contributing factor)
  - flight compartment light(s) - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - maintenance - delayed (contributing factor)
  - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

JUST BFR TKOF FM RWY 22L ON A NGT IFR FLT, THE PLT WAS CLRD TO CLB & MAINT 2000' & TO CONTACT CHICAGO DEP CTL (TRACON). ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, HE CALLED TRACON & RPRTD HE WAS CLBG THRU 900' FOR 2000'. THIS CALL WAS IN A NORMAL TONE OF VOICE & WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION FM THE ACFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A STEEP DSCNT APRX 6000' SOUTH OF THE ARPT & 3200' LEFT OF THE EXTDD RWY CTRLN. THE LAST OF 4 RADAR 'HITS' SHOWED THE ACFT HAD CLBD TO 1300' MSL (ABOUT 700' AGL) BFR THE ACDNT. NO PREIMPACT ENG OR FLT CTL PRBLM WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT, BUT THERE WERE 4 OPEN 'WRITE-UPS' DATED 1/27/87 THAT CONCERNED COCKPIT & INSTRUMENT LGTG. THESE INCLUDED: LEFT SIDE (PLT'S) OVERHEAD FLOOD LGT INOP, PANEL FLOOD LGTS INOP, INTERIOR LGTG CTL KNOB CONSTANT-LY FALLING OFF, PANEL POST LGTS EITHER FULL ON OR OFF. FOR CARGO OPNS, THE MAINT SYS ALLOWED DISCREPANCIES TO BE DELAYEDFOR UP TO SVRL DAYS UNTIL THE ACFT WAS RTRND TO THE HOME BASE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4968C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4968C-1988-07-21), registration cancelled 1988-07-21, S/N 21063694 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N
- Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063694
- Airframe hours: 2736
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L4 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Promptair, Inc.
- Registered owner: Hansel, Robert W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 20, 1987, 30 hours before
- Departed: MDW
- Destination: MLI, MOLINE, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MDW, Chicago Midway, runway 22L, 6,102 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,910 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MDW, 2 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 19870129002019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870129002019A), Jan 29, 1987: Cessna 210N, Chicago, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft impacted the ground during a night IFR. Faulty lighting may have caused pilot disorientation.

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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