# NTSB DEN01LA008: Cessna T210N, N5170Y, Santa Teresa, NM, October 29, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 2000, 19:55 local (Oct 29, 2000, 01:55 UTC)
- Place: Santa Teresa, NM
- Coordinates: 34.940464, -104.669563 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9405&lon=-104.6696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50554
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50554/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA008

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to follow procedures/directives and lower the landing gear for landing.  Contributing factors were the damaged propellers making it impossible to perform a go-around, the inadvertent stall to the runway, and the pilot being in a state of fatigue.

## Analysis

During the landing flare, the propeller blades began striking the runway, and the pilot realized that he had forgotten to put the landing gear down.  He said that he "pulled up on the yoke, applied power, but the three damaged propeller blades prevented a successful go around."  The airplane stalled and impacted the runway.  The pilot said that he believes that fatigue was a factor.  He said that he had been in an intensive flight-training program all week and had been up since 0530 on the day of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On October 27, 2000, at approximately 1950 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N5170Y, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain while the pilot was executing a go-around at Santa Teresa Airport, Santa Teresa, New Mexico.  The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, received serious injuries.  The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from Wichita, Kansas, approximately 5 hours before the accident.  The pilot had filed an instrument flight plan.

According to the pilot, during the landing flare, the propeller blades began striking the runway, and he realized that he had forgotten to put the landing gear down.  He said that he "pulled up on the yoke, applied power, but the three damaged propeller blades prevented a successful go around."  He said that the airplane stalled and impacted the runway.  Subsequently, the engine mounts broke, both wing spars bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled.

The pilot said that he believes that fatigue was a factor.  He said that he had been in an intensive flight-training program all week and had been up since 0530 on the day of the accident.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - runway
  - propeller system/accessories,blade - blade strike (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - go-around - not possible, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5170Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5170Y-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 21064106, built 1980 (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: 21064106
- Airframe hours: 3375
- Engines: Continental TSIO520R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Greer W. Craig
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2000, 17 hours before
- Departed: ICT, WICHITA, KS
- Destination: 5T6, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 5T6, Dona Ana County Airport, runway 10, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,985 total, 457 in this make and model, 2,825 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: 5T6

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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