# NTSB GAA17CA384: Cessna P210, N66NF, Willits, CA, July 4, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2017, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Willits, CA - Coordinates: 39.446945, -123.371391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4469&lon=-123.3714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA384 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95502/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95502 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA384 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to go around after the unstabilized approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073455), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073455), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073455), [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 P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073455), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073455), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2073455), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna P210R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073455), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane reported that, while landing and trying to maintain the runway centerline, the airplane was "blown to the east, presumably by either stronger winds or gusts." He added that he continued to descend while attempting to correct back to the right toward the runway centerline. He further added that he was "fearing a stall" and chose to "put the plane down in the grass and dirt to the left of the runway." Unable to stop the forward momentum with full application of the brakes, the airplane continued over the edge of the embankment and came to rest in the trees. A witness, who was flying another airplane in the pattern, reported that the accident airplane did not touch down until the second half of the landing runway. He added that the airplane was "over the dirt" on the east side of the runway when it touched down and went off the embankment at the end of the runway. He observed the pilot exit the airplane and walk away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 21 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 150° at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the airplane reported that, while landing and trying to maintain the runway centerline, the airplane was "blown to the east, presumably by either stronger winds or gusts." He added that he continued to descend, while attempting to correct back to the right towards the runway centerline. He further added, that he was "fearing a stall," and elected to "put the plane down in the grass and dirt to the left of the runway." Unable to stop the forward momentum with full application of the brakes, the airplane continued over the edge of the embankment, and came to rest in the trees. A witness, flying from another airplane in the pattern reported that, the accident airplane did not touch down until the second half of the landing runway. He added that, the airplane was "over the dirt" on the east side of the runway when it touched down and went off the embankment at the end of the runway. He observed the pilot exit the airplane and walk away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 21 nautical miles from the accident site reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was 150° at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66NF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66NF-2019-02-12), registration cancelled 2019-02-12, S/N P21000860, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P210 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna P210R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210r) (registry code 2073455) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-CE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-ce) (registry code 17278, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000860 - Year built: 1985 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-CE 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2017 - Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA - Destination: O28, Willits, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: O28, Ells Field-Willits Muni, runway 16, 2,995 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,363 total, 484 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KUKI, 21 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 20170704019009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170704019009A), Jul 4, 2017: Cessna P210R, Willits, CA, Destroyed. PIC landed long on grass/dirt surface parallel to runway 16 (Ells Field). Runway 16/34 is approximately 2995 ft. PIC attempted to land with minimum distance… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95502. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 890 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 464 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-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.