# NTSB DEN89FA036: Cessna T210F, N6105R, Cortez, CO, November 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 24, 1988, 16:44 local (23:44 UTC)
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Coordinates: 37.350376, -108.569206 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3504&lon=-108.5692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17571/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA036

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ravine

## Analysis

THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FROM LAS VEGAS FSS AND WAS TOLD THAT FLT UNDER VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE PROPOSED FLT TO DURANGO (DRO). THE PLT FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND DEPARTED LAS VEGAS. OVER PAGE, AZ, HE FILED A PIREP AND WAS AGAIN TOLD VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED. N6105R LANDED AT BLANDING, UT (BDG) DUE TO SNOW AND THE PLT AND HIS PASSENGERS HAD THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH THE AIRPORT MANAGER. THE PLT THEN CALLED HIS WIFE IN DRO WHO SAID THE WX WAS OKAY, OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FROM CEDAR CITY FSS, AND DEPARTED BDG. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES NNE OF THE CORTEZ AIRPORT, ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN ITS DEPARTURE POINT AND ITS DESTINATION. IT CAME TO REST IN A SNOW COVERED RAVINE ADJACENT TO A HIGHWAY. WITNESSES SAID VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED DUE TO SNOW, FOG, AND DIMINISHING DAYLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. ANALYSIS OF THE PILOTS GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE TISSUE REVEALED 0.057% ETHANOL AND LESS THAN 0.005% TERT-BUTANOL, A FORM OF HEAVY ALCOHOL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6105R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6105R-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N T210-0005, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210F
- Registry model: [Cessna T210F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210f) (registry code 2073422) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T210-0005
- Airframe hours: 2877
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-CCM 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robinson, William J.
- Registered owner: William J Robinson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1988, 55 hours before
- Departed: BDG, BLANDING, UT
- Destination: DRO, DURANGO, CO
- Airport: CEZ, Cortez-Montezuma County, runway 21, 7,205 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 308 total, 47 in this make and model, 245 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast

## 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 19881124051799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881124051799A), Nov 24, 1988: Cessna T210F, Cortez, CO, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Trying to follow highway through town. Hit trees and ground. Fog and snow in area. Was advised VFR not recommended.

## Other investigations on N6105R (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC67F0389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0389), Jan 2, 1967: Cessna 210 (N6105R), Moberly, MO, substantial damage

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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