# NTSB DEN91FA135: Cessna P210N, N1JG, Pagosa Springs, CO, September 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 27, 1991, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Pagosa Springs, CO
- Coordinates: 37.240272, -107.029983 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2403&lon=-107.0300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18037
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18037/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA135

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING AN APPROACH FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.  HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS A RELATED FACTOR CONCERNING THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff
  - weather condition - high density altitude
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - physical impairment(other cardiovascular), pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - fence
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG TAXI AFTER A X-COUNTRY FLT, A PROP BLADE WAS NICKED BY FLYING GRAVEL. THE PLT HAD THE PROP DRESSED BY A MECH, THEN HE MADE AN ENG RUN-UP & TOOK OFF ON A TEST FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT AS THE ACFT WAS DEPG, IT REMAINED AT A LOWER ALT THAN EXPECTED, BUT THE ENG SOUNDED SMOOTH. THE ACFT WAS TURNED DWNWND & MNVRD FOR FINAL APCH TO THE SAME RWY. HOWEVER, IT OVERSHOT THE TURN & COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE CLEAR WAY ABOUT 1200' SHORT OF THE RWY. THE ACFT REMAINED AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 500', THEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE GATE OF A HI FENCE, CRASHED & BURNED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FND, BUT THE MIXTURE CTL WAS FND AT A MID-RANGE PSN, RATHER THAN FULL FORWARD. FOR TAKEOFFS BELOW 17,000' IN THIS ACFT, THE MIXTURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FULL RICH. THE PLT HAD BEEN ISSUED A 3RD CLASS MED CERT ON 3/14/91, BUT IT WAS RESCINDED LTR, WHEN A CARDIOVASCULAR ABNORMALITY OF THE PLT WAS NOTED.  A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A CHLORPHENIRAMINE (ANTIHISTAMINE) LEVEL OF 0.073 UG/ML. DENSITY ALT WAS ABT 9300'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1JG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1JG-1992-02-04), registration cancelled 1992-02-04, S/N P21000561 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000561
- Airframe hours: 1403
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-RCP 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David H. Hampton
- Registered owner: David H. Hampton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1991, 15 hours before
- Airport: 2V1, Pagosa Springs, runway 19, 6,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: invalid medical for flight; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14,000 total, 16 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 60 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 19910927043679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910927043679A), Sep 27, 1991: Cessna P210N, Pagosa Springs, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed short of runway on test flight after propellor strike. Medical certificate had been denied.

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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