# NTSB GAA16CA120: Cessna 210, N8340Z, Park Valley, UT, February 2, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 2, 2016, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Park Valley, UT - Coordinates: 41.603889, -113.093612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6039&lon=-113.0936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Salt Lake City FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 92692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92692/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92692 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to drag the left main landing gear on a snow covered dry lake bed, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a nose over during an aborted landing. ## 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 210-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 210-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Cessna 210-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was flying over a snow covered dry lake bed and decided to "drag" the left main landing gear to "better assess the surface condition." When the tire touched down, the pilot reported, "Drag rapidly increased and sucked the aircraft down." The pilot attempted to abort the landing by adding full power, but the airplane sunk further into the snow, turned to the right, and nosed over. The fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no other mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was flying over a snow covered dry lake bed and decided to "drag" the left main landing gear to "better assess the surface condition." When the tire touched down, the pilot reported, "Drag rapidly increased and sucked the aircraft down." The pilot attempted to abort the landing by adding full power, but the airplane sunk further into the snow, turned to the right, and nosed over. The fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no other mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8340Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8340Z), registered now, S/N 205-0340 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (5) - Registry model: [Cessna 210-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210-5) (registry code 2073404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 205-0340 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 2874 - Engines: Continental IO-470-S 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2015 - Departed: OGD, OGDEN, UT - Destination: OGD, OGDEN, UT - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review November 13, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,828 total, 324 in this make and model, 2,087 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KBYI, 30 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 20160202000869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160202000869A), Feb 2, 2016: Cessna 210-5, Lucin, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from kogd to go look at areas to do off airport landings. After arriving at Lucin he decided to do some low passes over the landing area to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92692. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.