FTW94LA285

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210L · Amarillo, TX · August 27, 1994

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 27, 1994, 11:31 local (16:31 UTC)
Place
Amarillo, TX
Injuries
3 minor, 2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N1779XCessna T210L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 24, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940827023659A
Case key
19151

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 failure to attain proper alignment of the airplane with the runway during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor was the partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalClimb - to cruise
Reason for occurrence undeterminedFactor
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Proper alignment - not attainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

Approaching runway 4, following a partial loss of engine power during climb for undetermined reasons, the pilot lowered the landing gear, extended 10 degrees of flaps, and closed the mixture and throttle control. During the landing flare/touchdown the airplane contacted the ground to the left of the runway as the pilot was trying to align the airplane with the 200 foot wide runway. The engine, propeller, fuselage, and right wing were damaged. An examination of the engine by the manufacturer's representative, with the approval of the owner, did not reveal any anomalies that would have contributed to a loss of engine power.

Factual narrative

On August 27, 1994, at 1131 central daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N1779X, was substantially damaged during landing at Amarillo International Airport, Amarillo, Texas. The private pilot and two of his four passengers received minor injuries. The other two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned personal cross country flight.

On the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported the following information. The flight departed Amarillo, Texas, for a planned flight to Pampa, Texas. During the initial climb, the mixture was leaned to 23 gph and the manifold pressure reduced to 25 inches. As the airplane was climbing between 4,500 feet MSL and 5,000 feet MSL, the engine "began sputtering." The pilot noted that the digital fuel flow meter was flashing at about 5 gph. The pilot declared an emergency and returned to the airport for landing. Approaching runway 4, the pilot lowered the landing gear, set the flaps to 10 degrees, and closed the throttle and mixture. The airplane made contact with the ground "while trying to line up with the runway." Contact with the ground was made at "full flare and about 65 mph at the left edge of runway 4." Runway 4 is 200 feet wide. The propeller, engine, fuselage and right wing were damaged.

A Teledyne/Continental representative (enclosed report) arranged with the owner for an examination of the engine. He reported no anomalies that would have contributed to the loss of engine power.

Aircraft

Registration
N1779X
Reported as
Cessna T210L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21060799
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-H, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Park, Sung S.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 8, 1994
Airport
AMA · Amarillo International, runway 4, 13,502 × 200 ft, asphalt

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
40
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
374 total · 75 in this make and model · 292 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 14 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
AMA

FAA reports on this event · 1

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