# NTSB CHI89FA039: Cessna 210D, N3767Y, Alvin, IL, January 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1989, 17:33 local (23:33 UTC)
- Place: Alvin, IL
- Coordinates: 40.299907, -87.600509 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2999&lon=-87.6005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14242/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89FA039

## Probable cause

CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO UPDATE HIS WEATHER INFORMATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - updating of recorded weather information - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - utility pole
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER A WX BRIEFING AT 0545 EST, THE PLT & 3 PAX DEPARTED FT MYERS, FL, AT 0926, ON A FLT TO LANSING, IL.  A REFUELING STOP WAS MADE AT TULLAHOMA, TN, BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN UPDATED WX BRIEFING & NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. SUBSEQUENT-LY, THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 5 MI NORTH OF THE VERMILLION COUNTY ARPT ON A HEADING OF 230 DEG.  INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH A TREE, ABOUT 35' AGL.  THE ACFT THEN HIT A POLE (ABOUT 190' FROM THE TREE) BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND.  WRECKAGE DEBRIS EXTENDED ABOUT 625' FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT WITH THE TREE. THE RPRTD WX AT THE ARPT WAS IN PART: INDEFINITECEILING, VIS 1/4 MI WITH FOG, WIND FROM 200 DEG AT 7 KTS.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS EVIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3767Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3767Y-1989-08-16), registration cancelled 1989-08-16, S/N 21058267 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210D
- Registry model: [Cessna 210D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (registry code 2073414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21058267
- Airframe hours: 3775
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Lucente
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1988, 20 hours before
- Departed: THA, TULLAHOMA, TN
- Destination: 3HA, LANSING, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots
- Temperature: 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DNV, 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 19890101000059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890101000059A), Jan 1, 1989: Cessna 210D, Alvin, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck pole and wires in IMC at night. Frontal activity, low ceilings and icing.

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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