CHI99LA170

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210N · Kalamazoo, MI · May 29, 1999

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 28, 1999, 20:10 local (May 29, 1999, 00:10 UTC)
Place
Kalamazoo, MI
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9612YCessna T210N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report November 30, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990529006199A
Case key
46412

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the excessive airspeed, the proper touchdown point not obtained and the aborted landing not performed by the pilot. The fence and automobile were contributing factors.

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.

OverrunLanding - aborted
Airspeed - excessivePilot in commandCause
Proper touchdown point - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Aborted landing - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - aborted
Object - electrical tower(marked)Factor
Object - vehicleFactor

Analysis

The aircraft overran the departure end of the runway and struck an airport boundary fence and an automobile. In a written statement, the pilot reported the following, 'High approach to runway 27. Touched down approximately half way down the runway. Decision was made to go around. Added full power, mixture rich, propeller takeoff position. Proceeded with forced landing. Impacted fence at departure end of runway 27. Deplaned aircraft.' A video tape taken of the accident site revealed that there were black marks from the runway numbers of runway 05, across the north south road and towards the main wreckage. The threshold of runway 05 is displaced 315 feet. The throttle, mixture and propeller controls were in the forward position. The fence was wrapped around the aircraft's spinner and behind the propeller hub. The trailing edge flaps were in the 10-degree position. The engine was run on the airframe and no anomalies were noted.

Factual narrative

On May 28, 1999, at 2010 eastern daylight time. a Cessna T210N, N9612Y, owned and piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage upon impact with an airport boundary fence and an automobile. The airport boundary fence was located at the departure end of runway 27 (3,350 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), Kalamazoo, Michigan. The aircraft impacted the automobile while it was travelling along a north south road along the departure end of runway 27. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries and all four passengers received no injuries. The driver of the automobile was seriously injured. The flight originated from the Oakland/Troy Airport (7D2), Troy, Michigan, at 1910, and was en route to AZO with a final destination of Mackinac Island, Michigan.

The pilot stated that he had obtained full fuel from a fixed base operator at 7D2. He described his approach into AZO as being fairly steep with the power pulled back. He reported that he was straight in for Runway 27 at AZO and had selected 10 degrees of flaps as a landing flap setting. The pilot added that he was coming in too fast. He also stated that he touched down at a point 1/2 down the runway and applied the brakes at which point he elected to perform a go-around. He reported that the engine "cut-out" as he went to a full power setting. The pilot further stated that the mixture and propeller controls were fully forward during the go-around attempt.

In a written statement, the pilot reported the following, "High approach to runway 27. Touched down approximately half way down the runway. Decision was made to go around. Added full power, mixture rich, propeller takeoff position. Proceeded with forced landing. Impacted fence at departure end of runway 27. Deplaned aircraft".

The pilot and emergency personnel reported that there fuel was leaking from the aircraft after the accident. The emergency personnel also reported that there was no fire.

A video tape taken of the accident site revealed that there were black marks from the runway numbers of runway 05, across the north south road and towards the main wreckage. The threshold of runway 05 is displaced 315 feet. Twenty sections or an estimated 240 feet of airport's chain link perimeter fence was reported as destroyed. The fence was wrapped around the aircraft's spinner and behind the propeller hub. The throttle, mixture and propeller controls were in the forward position. The trailing edge flaps were in the 10-degree position.

The engine was run on the airframe and no anomalies were noted.

The Federal Aviation Administration, Cessna Aircraft Company and Textron Lycoming were parties to the investigation.

Aircraft

Registration
N9612Y
Reported as
Cessna T210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
64561
Airframe hours
2,105
Engine
Continental TSIO520R108, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Arthur Hawkins
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 18, 1998 · 288 hours before
Departed
7D2 · Troy, MI
Destination
AZO
Airport
AZO · Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, runway 27, 3,350 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
56
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,208 total · 1,164 in this make and model · 973 as pilot in command · 71 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
290° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
AZO

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.