# NTSB DEN81FA035: Cessna T210N, N5137Y, Castle Rock, CO, May 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1981
- Place: Castle Rock, CO · CASTLE ROCK, CO
- Location: 39.3722° N, 104.8561° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Castle Rock, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3722&lon=-104.8561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA035-202510

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3623  81/5/18  NR.CASTLE ROCK,CO     CESSNA T210N        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 313
        TIME - 1045                    N5137Y              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 106 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AMES,IA                    CASTLE ROCK,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED DRG ILS APCH.PLT HAD HISTORY OF IFR FLYING.STATED"...MY RNAV MADE A MISTAKE" BFR CRASH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5137Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5137Y-2013-03-25), registration cancelled 2013-03-25, S/N 21064092, 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Arapahoe

## 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 19810518026679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810518026679A), May 18, 1981: Cessna T210N, Castle Rock, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. VFR pilot lost control on an IFR ILS approach. Near vertical impact. May have misused RNAV system or system defect.

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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