# NTSB DEN91FA079: Cessna 210M, N777DH, Colorado City, TX, June 3, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 3, 1991, 06:58 local (11:58 UTC)
- Place: Colorado City, TX
- Coordinates: 32.390895, -100.850502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3909&lon=-100.8505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18025/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA079

## Probable cause

THE PILOT CONTINUING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT.  FACTORS WERE: THUNDERSTORM, UPDRAFTS AND THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE WEATHER BRIEFING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - updraft (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED A STANDARD WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH CALLED FOR THUNDERSTORMS ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE FROM FORTH WORTH-HICKS AIRPORT TO THE MIDLAND AIRPARK.  THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE PILOT WAS WHEN HE REPORTED BEING IN A STRONG UPDRAFT BUT ENCOUNTERING NO TURBULENCE.  EVIDENCE INDICATES THE AIRPLANE BROKE UP IN FLIGHT.  A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS RAINING SO HARD HE HTO PARK ALONGSIDE THE HIGHWAY AND WAIT FOR IT TO SUBSIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777DH-1996-09-05), registration cancelled 1996-09-05, S/N 21061840 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210M
- Registry model: [Cessna 210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210m) (registry code 2073450) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061840
- Airframe hours: 2474
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-1-3A 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Roy D. Bailes
- Registered owner: Roy D. Bailes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1990, 605 hours before
- Departed: T67, FORT WORTH, TX
- Destination: MDD, MIDLAND, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 740 total, 26 in this make and model, 652 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn

## 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 19910603019159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910603019159A), Jun 3, 1991: Cessna 210M, Colorado City, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into area of thunderstorms. Airframe failure occurred. Sigmets and airmets out for severe thunderstorms in area

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.