# NTSB DEN90FA089: Cessna 210E, N4912U, Elbert, CO, April 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 9, 1990, 17:56 local (23:56 UTC)
- Place: Elbert, CO
- Coordinates: 39.220214, -104.530708 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2202&lon=-104.5307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA089

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INITIATION OF FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, THE RAPID ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE AIRFRAME, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL-MUSH, RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

PLT OBTAINED WX BRIEFING AND ADVISED OF KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS ALONG ROUTE. PLT FILED IFR FLT PLAN AND TOOK OFF AT 1733. AT 1744, PLT REPORTED PICKING UP RIME ICE AND REQUESTED LOWER ALT. ATC WAS UNABLE TO DESCEND PLT DUE TO MINIMUM VECTORING ALT AND TOLD PLT TO CLIMB TO 10,000 FT. AT 1745, PLT ADVISED HE HAD TOO MUCH ICE AND COULD NOT CLIMB. ATC CLEARED ACFT TO 9000 FT. AT 1748, PLT SAID HE WAS LOSING STATIC SYSTEM. ATC CLEARED ACFT DIRECT TO KIOWA VORTAC AND TOWARDS LOWER TERRAIN. AT 1752, PLT SAID HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT AND WAS LOSING AIRSPEED. ATC CLEARED ACFT TO 8500 FT. AT 1753, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. AT 1756, ACFT CRASHED. TV VIDEOTAPES TAKEN 3 HRS AFTER CRASH SHOWED AT LEAST 1-IN RIME ICE ON LEADING EDGES OF WINGS, STABILIZERS, AND STRUTS. ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR FLT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. PLT WAS INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT HAD LOGGED ONLY 3.75 HRS IFR FLT, ALL ACTUAL, IN PREVIOUS 6 MOS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4912U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4912U-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 21058612, 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: 21058612
- Airframe hours: 5745
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Carl Feldhamer & Associates
- Registered owner: Carl Feldhamer And Associates
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 1989, 270 hours before
- Departed: COS, COLORADO SPRING, CO
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,054 total, 694 in this make and model, 3,911 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 25 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 19900409007899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900409007899A), Apr 9, 1990: Cessna 210E, Elbert, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed IFR on short flight with forecasting. Iced up. Unable hold altitude. Settled. Struck rough terrain.

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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