# NTSB DFW08CA191: Cessna T210M, N6882B, Van Horn, TX, July 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 17, 2008, 08:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Van Horn, TX - Coordinates: 31.126667, -104.731109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1267&lon=-104.7311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque, NM - NTSB case key (mKey): 68473 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68473/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA191 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude due to his diverted attention. Contributing to the accident was complications manually extending the landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot positioned the landing gear handle to the "gear down" position in preparation for landing. The gear did not extend and the circuit breaker popped. His attempts to reset the circuit was unsuccessful. The pilot then turned toward an unpopulated, desert area and attempted to lower the landing gear through the hand pump. There was no pressure on the pump handle and it was determined that the hydraulic reservoir was low. The pilot, with the assistance of his passenger, opened the reservoir and added water to regain pressure and extend the landing gear. The gear appeared to be down with a visual check but there was no "down and locked" indication on the instrument panel. The pilot diverted his attention inside the cockpit in an attempt to troubleshoot the system. During this time, the airplane impacted the ground in a near level attitude. The nose gear was torn off, the propeller was damaged, and the left wing was substantially damaged. The airplane came to rest in the upright position. The pilot and his passenger were not injured and were able to egress unassisted. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Report that the accident could have been prevented if he had remembered to keep flying the airplane. ## Factual narrative The private pilot positioned the landing gear handle to the "gear down" position in preparation for landing. The gear did not extend and the circuit breaker popped. The attempt to reset the circuit, but was unsuccessful. The pilot then turned toward an unpopulated, desert area and attempted to lower the landing gear through the hand pump. There was no pressure on the pump handle and it was determined that the hydraulic reservoir was low. The pilot, with the assistance of his passenger, opened the reservoir and added water to regain pressure and extend the landing gear. The gear appeared to be down with a visual check but there was no "down and locked" indication on the instrument panel. The pilot diverted his attention inside the cockpit in an attempt to troubleshoot the system. During this time, the airplane impacted the ground in a near level attitude. The nose gear was torn off, the propeller was damaged, and the left wing was substantially damaged. The airplane came to rest in the upright position. The pilot and his passenger were not injured and were able to egress unassisted. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Report that the accident could have been prevented if he had remembered to keep flying the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6882B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6882B-2010-03-10), registration cancelled 2010-03-10, S/N 21062850 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062850 - Airframe hours: 4900 - Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2007, 105 hours before - Departed: NONE, Fort Davis, TX - Destination: KVHN, Van Horn, TX - Airport: KVHN, Culberson County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,600 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 4,530 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KGDP, 40 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 20080717844529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080717844529A), Jul 17, 2008: Cessna T210M, Van Horn, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 0930 CDT on July 17, 2008, the certificated private pilot [privacy data omitted] of N6882B, a Cessna turbo centurion (CE-T210M) flew the… 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.