# NTSB DEN86FA056: Cessna T210L, N2082S, West Valley, UT, December 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1985, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: West Valley, UT
- Location: 40.7312° N, 111.9658° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SALT LAKE CITY INTL (SLC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7312&lon=-111.9658&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16800/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA056

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Abrupt maneuver, descent
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command
  - pull-up - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - horizontal stabilizer attachment - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,elevator - separation
  - wing

## Analysis

DURING APCH TO RWY 34L, THE RT HORIZONTAL STAB, ELEVATORS AND WINGS SEPARATED IN-FLT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT WAS NOT INSTR CURRENT. NTAP DATA REVEALED N2082S AT AN ALT OF 7,400 FT AND 203 KTS GRND SPEED AT OUTER MARKER. THE MCA AT THE MARKER IS 6,100 FEET. WITNESSES SAW ACFT BREAKUP JUST BELOW LOW CLOUD CEILING. EXAM OF WRECKAGE REVEALED HORIZONTAL STAB FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE SPEED AND PLT INDUCED AERODYNAMIC OVERLOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2082S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2082S-1985-12-29), registration cancelled 1985-12-29, S/N 21061048, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061048
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peter O. And Biruta Macs
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1985, 51 hours before
- Departed: POV, LAVERNE, CA
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City Int., runway 34, 12,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 3 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 19851229066759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851229066759A), Dec 29, 1985: Cessna T210L, West Valley, UT, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Made a steep descent at a very high airspeed during an ILS approach. Sustained an inflight airframe breakup.

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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