# NTSB DEN84LA164: Cessna 210E, N2373F, Livingston, MT, May 25, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1984, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Livingston, MT
- Coordinates: 45.699138, -110.529785 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6991&lon=-110.5298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16387/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA164

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A VISUAL FLIGHT PLAN FLIGHT THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT OPERATED HIS UNPRESSURIZED CESSNA 210 ABOVE THE CLOUDS AND UP TO AN ALTITUDE OF 16500 FEET MSL. THE PLT STATED THAT JUST AFTER PASSING, 'CRAZY PEAK', HE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME TURBULENCE AND THE ACFT WAS SUCKED DOWN INTO THE CLOUDS BELOW. THE PLT STATED THAT AS THE ACFT ENTERED THE CLOUDS HE RETARDED THE ENGINE POWER. FURTHER HE SAID THAT THE ACFT STARTED A STEEP DESCENT AND BANKED AT LEAST 90 DEGREES. THE ACFT EXITED THE CLOUDS IN AN INVERTED SPIN AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 10000 FEET MSL. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THIS OUT-OF-CONTROL SEQUENCE AND SUBSEQUENT SPIN RECOVERY. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO THE DESTINATION WHERE IT LANDED UNEVENTFULLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2373F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2373F), registered now, S/N 21058573, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210E
- Registry model: [Cessna 210E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210e) (registry code 2073416) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21058573
- Airframe hours: 2300
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Centennial Flyers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 15, 1983, 30 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: LWT, LEWISTOWN, MT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,595 total, 409 in this make and model, 3,521 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVM, 20 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 19840525018969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840525018969A), May 25, 1984: Cessna 210E, Livingston, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of aircraft when sucked down into clouds. Airplane suffered structural damage during recovery.

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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