Cessna 210K N8264M accident, Durango, CO, Jun 29, 2003 · NTSB DEN03LA118

Probable cause

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the high altitude on base turn and final approach, the low airspeed, the pilot's improper use of flaps, the inadvertent stall, the pilot's failure to recover from the bounced landing, the gusting crosswinds, and the high density altitude.

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.

Loss of control - in flightApproach - vfr pattern - final approach

Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Altitude - highFactor

Airspeed - lowFactor

Flaps - improper use ofPilot in commandFactor

Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Recovery from bounced landing - not performedPilot in commandFactor

Weather condition - crosswindFactor

Weather condition - gustsFactor

Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The pilot said he was making a right-hand traffic pattern for landing on runway 01. The pilot said as he was coming in, his altitude was high. The pilot said, "I put on full flaps and [the] descent increased to the point [that] I decided to go around. The plane continued to descend and the stall horn started to sound." The pilot raised the flaps to 10 degrees and then bounced off the runway. The pilot said a crosswind turned his airplane toward a hangar. The pilot said he turned the airplane back toward the runway, but "it wouldn't fly and fell to the ground." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. At the time of the accident, the winds recorded at the Durango-La Plata County Airport, 120 degrees at 7 miles from the accident site were 270 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The density altitude was determined as 9,942 feet msl.

Factual narrative

On June 29, 2003, approximately 1530 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210K, N8264M, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it departed the right side of runway 01 (5,010 feet by 50 feet, dry asphalt) while landing at the Durango-Animas Air Park (00C), Durango, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted on an instrument flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Grand Island, Nebraska, approximately 1200 central daylight time.

In his written statement, the pilot said he was making a right-hand traffic pattern for landing on runway 01. The pilot said as he was coming in, his altitude was high. The pilot said, "I put on full flaps and [the] descent increased to the point [that] I decided to go around. The plane continued to descend and the stall horn started to sound. I reduced [the] flaps to 10 deg[rees] and then bounced off [the] rw (runway) where a 90 degree crosswind turned the plane towards a hangar." The pilot said he turned the airplane back toward the runway, but "it wouldn't fly and fell to the ground."

An examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the firewall, horizontal stabilizer, and right wing spar. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

At the time of the accident, the winds recorded at the Durango-La Plata County Airport, 120 degrees at 7 miles from 00C, were 270 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The density altitude was determined as 9,942 feet msl.

Aircraft

Registration: N8264M
Reported as: Cessna 210K
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 21059264
Airframe hours: 5,588.1
Engine: Continental IO-520L, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: William F. Brown Jr
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · June 6, 2002 · 87 hours before
Departed: GRI · Grand Island, NE
Destination: 00C · Durango, CO
Flight plan: IFR
Airport: 5CO0 · Durango-Animas Air Park, runway 01, 5,010 × 50 ft, asphalt

N8264MRegistration cancelled Aug 19, 2003 · Cessna 210KS/N 21059264 · Built 1970 Airframe modelCessna 210K Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

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: 64
Injuries: Minor
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review: September 4, 2001
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 2,154 total · 30 in this make and model · 2,154 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 270° at 18 knots, gusting 21
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
Observed at: DRO, 7 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.

Accident 20030629013259ACessna 210K · Durango, CO(-23) 06/30/03, N8264M, a Cessna 210, piloted by william f. brown, departed traverse city Michigan stopping in grand island, Nebraska for fuel before flying on to Durango, CO. At approximately 1530MDT, Mr. Brown attempted to land on runway 01, an Animas air…Jun 29, 2003 · N8264M · Substantial damage