# NTSB DEN86FA142: Cessna T210N, N5280A, Elgin, ND, May 22, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1986, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Elgin, ND
- Coordinates: 46.399467, -101.840904 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3995&lon=-101.8409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA142

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - underconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - total, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,aileron - failure,total
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - failure,total
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

PLT RECEIVED WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED BY FSS. PLT RADIOED THAT HE WAS IN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY, IFR CONDITIONS AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY OBSERVED ACFT DESCENDING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED OF A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. WX AT ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOW CLOUDS AND HEAVY RAIN. PLT HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 89 HOURS AND NO INSTRUMENT RATING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5280A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5280A-1989-01-26), registration cancelled 1989-01-26, S/N 21063345 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063345
- Airframe hours: 2389
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Ventures
- Registered owner: Robert S. Hann
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1986, 53 hours before
- Departed: ABR, ABERDEEN, SD
- Destination: GDV, GLENDIVE, MT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 89 total, 2 in this make and model, 51 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19860522046289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860522046289A), May 22, 1986: Cessna T210N, Elgin, ND, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Proceeded VFR into a thunderstorm. Lost control and aircraft came apart in the air. VFR was not recommended.

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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