# NTSB ERA21LA268: Cessna T210, N7568N, Bloomsburg, PA, May 19, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 19, 2021, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Bloomsburg, PA - Coordinates: 40.998553, -76.428836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9986&lon=-76.4288&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103340/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103340 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA268 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstable approach and delayed go-around attempt, which resulted in a porpoised landing, a nose landing gear collapse, and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during an aerial observation flight he finished the survey block and decided to land at an airport nearby to use the restroom and get fuel. He reported that he had never been to the airport, so he chose to enter the traffic pattern “a little high” as he noticed terrain around the airport. On final approach, the pilot executed a forward slip maneuver to reduce “excess airspeed and altitude” and once over the runway, he entered the landing flare, and the airplane floated down the runway about 500 ft. Subsequently, the airplane touched down nose first and entered a porpoise, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and a runway excursion through the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The passenger on-board, who was the sensor operator, reported that while on short final approach, he observed the airspeed to be 125 knots, with a descent rate of 1,250 feet per minute, and the airplane subsequently touched down ”halfway down” the runway. He then described that the airplane began to porpoise, and the pilot retracted the landing gear and applied full power, however the airplane ”hit the ground” again and slid off the runway. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7568N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7568N-2021-10-13), registration cancelled 2021-10-13, S/N 21063235, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-r) (registry code 17267, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21063235 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 4070 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R9B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Keystone Aerial Surveys Inc - Registered owner: Keystone Aerial Surveys Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 2021 - Departed: PNE, Philadelphia, PA - Destination: PNE, Philadelphia, PA - Airport: N13, Bloomsburg Muni, runway 09/27, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 867 total, 171 in this make and model, 816 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KIPT, 27 nm away - METAR: METAR KIPT 191454Z 25004KT 10SM CLR 22/10 A3037 RMK AO2 SLP281 T02220100 58002= ## 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 20210519015719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210519015719A), May 19, 2021: Cessna T210N, Bloomsburg, PA, Substantial damage. 05/19/2021: N7568N crashed at N13 following an unsuccessful landing attempt. Pilot stated the plane porpised several times and the nose gear collapsed before… ## Other investigations on N7568N (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX89LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA187), May 12, 1989: Cessna T210N (N7568N), Monterey, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOTS IMPROPER USE OF THE CHECKLIST WHEN HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103340. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12823206&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12823074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Passenger%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12823461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Airport video of accident (item 4, MP4, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12823105&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Airport%20Video%20of%20Accident-Rel.mp4 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.