# NTSB DEN90FA109: Cessna 210L, N2403S, Telluride, CO, May 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 19, 1990, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Telluride, CO
- Coordinates: 37.939598, -107.89981 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9396&lon=-107.8998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17832/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA109

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FFAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTOR WAS WIND SHEAR REPORTED OFF DEPARTURE END OF RWY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - windshear
  - weather condition - high density altitude
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Nose over, other
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

AFTER HAVING DISCUSSED THE LOCAL ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WITH AIRPORT OPERATION PERSONNEL, THE PRIVATE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT THE FLIGHT. HE SAID THAT DURING HIS TAKEOFF CLIMB HE UNEXPECTEDLY ENCOUNTERED A VERY STRONG DOWNDRAFT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. DESPITE WARNING FROM AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL, THE PILOT STATED BEFORE THE FLIGHT THAT HE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO CLIMB OVER ADVERSE WINDS RATHER THAN MAINTAIN ADDITIONAL AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE WAS VERY NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND THE PILOT USED 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS, INSTEAD OF THE RECOMMENDED 10. THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF A BOOKLET AT THE AIRPORT WARNING OF HAZARDOUS WIND CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WINDS WERE SOUTHERLY IN EXCESS OF 10 M.P.H. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,760 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2403S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2403S-1993-01-20), registration cancelled 1993-01-20, S/N 21061271 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061271
- Airframe hours: 4441
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: San Diego Flying Club
- Registered owner: San Diego Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 16, 1990, 67 hours before
- Destination: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TEX, Telluride Reg., runway 27, 6,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 384 total, 121 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TEX, 1 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 19900519016689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900519016689A), May 19, 1990: Cessna 210L, Telluride, CO, Substantial damage. Encountered sink rate on nose high gusty wind takeoff and stalled. High density altitude gross weight flaps factors

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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