ERA10CA276

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna P210N · Cambridge, NY · May 21, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 21, 2010, 13:24 local (17:24 UTC)
Place
Cambridge, NY
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N234JKCessna P210N
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 12, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20100521005919A
Case key
76070

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna P210N: 18 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna P210N: 4 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot stated that he and his passenger were practicing short-field landings at multiple airports. After completing a full stop, he taxied back to the runway and configured the airplane for a short-field takeoff. About 500 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne with a high angle of attack. The pilot added full power and the airplane abruptly yawed to the left. The pilot corrected with coordinated rudder and aileron. As the airplane accelerated in ground effect, the right main gear touched down in a recently plowed field adjacent to the runway. The airplane bounced three times and the pilot aborted the takeoff, touching down in the field. The nose gear separated on contact, resulting in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The empennage and wings of the airplane incurred substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical abnormalities with the airplane prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he and his passenger were conducting a local flight to practice short field landings at multiple airports. After completing a full stop and taxi back on Runway 25, the pilot configured the airplane for a short field takeoff. About 500 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne with a high angle of attack. The pilot added full power, which the airplane abruptly yawed to the left. The pilot corrected with coordinated rudder and aileron. As the airplane accelerated in ground effect, the right main gear touched down in a recently plowed field adjacent to the runway. The airplane “skipped” three times on this surface; the pilot aborted the takeoff and touched down in the field. The nose gear separated on contact, causing the airplane to flip and came to rest inverted. The empennage and wings of the airplane incurred substantial damage. The 1254, about 30 minute prior to the accident, Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at the William H. Morse State Airport, Bennington, Vermont, located 11 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident airport, reported winds for the area were variable at four knots, with clear skies and unrestricted visibility. The pilot did not report any mechanical abnormalities with the airplane prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N234JK
Reported as
Cessna P210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
P210-00177
Airframe hours
3,182
Engine
Rolls-Royce 250-B17F, 450 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Kinderhook Aviation LLC
Registered owner
Kinderhook Aviation LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 15, 2009 · 70 hours before
Departed
DDH · Bennington, VT
Destination
1B8 · Cambridge, NY
Airport
1B8 · Chapin Field Airport, runway 23, 2,130 × 65 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 17, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
373 total · 61 in this make and model · 277 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 34 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Flight instructor
Age
49
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Military, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 17, 2010
Seat
Right
Flight hours
14,000 total · 11 in this make and model · 13,000 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 30 °F
Altimeter
29.76 inHg
Observed at
DDH, 11 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.