# NTSB LAX00LA005: Cessna 210B, N9609X, Tonopah, NV, October 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1999, 19:52 local (Oct 6, 1999, 02:52 UTC) - Place: Tonopah, NV - Coordinates: 38.789829, -117.10955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7898&lon=-117.1095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47551/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to monitor his altitude and maintain an adequate terrain clearance during the approach. The dark night lighting conditions and the visual illusion created by the lack of ground reference lights were factors in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - altitude - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - visual illusion, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed(vmo) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airport operator reported that it was a very dark night and the airplane requested advisories on the Unicom frequency. The runway lights illuminated and the operator awaited the airplane's arrival. When the airplane did not appear and the runway lights shutoff automatically, the operator began looking for the airplane. He saw a rotating red light in the area where the base leg should have been flown, drove to the site, and discovered the airplane. The airport operator said that the area surrounding the airport is very sparsely populated and the only lighted visual queues during night approaches are the runway lights. The pilot said he lost sight of the threshold lights and unknowingly lost excessive altitude while on downwind. During the base turn, the left main wheel touched the ground and rolled a short distance before the gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 1999, about 1952 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210B, N9609X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while on a left base leg for landing on runway 15 at Tonopah, Nevada. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The personal flight originated in Yelm, Washington, with stops in Chehalis, Washington, and Klamath Falls, Oregon. The pilot departed Klamath Falls at 1737. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airport operator reported the airplane requested advisories on the Unicom frequency. The runway lights illuminated and the operator awaited the airplane's arrival. When the airplane did not appear, and the runway lights shutoff automatically, the operator began looking for the airplane. He saw a rotating red light in the area where the base leg should have been flown, drove to the site, and discovered the airplane. He reported the two occupants were somewhat dazed, suffered cuts and bruises, and were transported to the hospital. The operator turned the fuel switch from right to off, and turned the electrical master switch off. He noted it was a very dark night. The pilot stated the ground level at the point of contact was higher than the runway threshold and the threshold lights were not in view. He said there was no lights east of the runway to reference once the airplane passed abeam the threshold lights on the downwind leg until the threshold lights were reacquired. In his written statement, the pilot noted, "Apparently excessive altitude was lost while on downwind." During the base turn, the left wheel contacted the ground and rolled for a short distance before collapsing as the airplane slid to a stop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9609X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9609X-2003-10-31), registration cancelled 2003-10-31, S/N 21057909, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210B - Registry model: [Cessna 210B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210b) (registry code 2073410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21057909 - Airframe hours: 4243 - Engines: Continental IO-470-S 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: George W. Mojonnier - Registered owner: Mojonnier Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1998, 47 hours before - Departed: LMT, KLAMATH FALLS, OR - Destination: TPH - Airport: TPH, Tonopah, runway 15, 7,057 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,104 total, 842 in this make and model, 5,968 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TPH ## 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 19991005028599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991005028599A), Oct 5, 1999: Cessna 210B, Tonopah, NV, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 5, 1999, about 2035 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210B, N9609X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain while on a… 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.