LAX01LA075

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210L · San Luis Obispo, CA · January 15, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 15, 2001, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC)
Place
San Luis Obispo, CA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N2508SCessna T210LN890GRCessna 310
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 2, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE
FAA report
20010115001979A
Case key
50937

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The failure of the other pilot to ensure adequate taxi clearance between aircraft.

The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate taxi clearance between aircraft. A factor in the accident was glare from the morning sun.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Light condition - sunglareFactor
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftFactor
Light condition - sunglareFactor
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was in the run-up area for runway 29 and had just completed cycling the props when he noticed movement to the right side of the aircraft. He looked over and saw a Cessna T210L approaching from his right and slightly behind. The T210L's left wing struck the right tip tank then passed through the propeller arc of the right engine and was severed approximately 5 feet inboard. Both aircraft were shutdown and there were no injuries. The pilot of the taxing T210L reported the morning sun restricted his vision, but he continued to taxi.

The pilot of the taxing Cessna T210L reported that the morning sun was shining directly down the taxiway and made it very difficult to see. He continued taxiing and his left wing struck the right propeller of a Cessna 310 in the run-up area. The resulting collision caused damage to the right engine, propeller, and tip tank of the 310, and severed 5 feet from the T210L's left wing.

Factual narrative

On January 15, 2001, at 0730 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210L, N2508S, and a Cessna 310, N890GR, collided on the ground in the run-up area for runway 29 at San Luis Obispo Airport, San Luis Obispo, California. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. The Cessna T210L was operated by the private pilot/owner, who was not injured, as a business flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The Cessna 310 was rented by a commercial pilot for a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91, and neither he nor his passenger were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and both airplanes were preparing to depart. The Cessna T210L pilot had filed an IFR flight plan to Palomar, California, and intended to receive his clearance airborne. The Cessna 310 pilot intended to fly VFR to Santa Monica, California, and no flight plan was filed.

Both pilots were interviewed by Safety Board investigators. The pilot of the taxing Cessna T210L stated that the morning sun restricted his vision to the point that he did not see the Cessna 310 in the run-up area. The pilot of the Cessna 310 stated his airplane was stationary and he was looking inside performing prop governor checks and at the last second saw a "white flash" in the corner of his eye.

The right wing of the Cessna T210L was severed approximately 6 feet inboard of the wingtip when it contacted the right propeller of the Cessna 310. The Cessna 310 suffered damage to the right propeller, engine, right wing fuel tank, and sudden engine stoppage.

On January 15, 2001, at 0730 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210L, N2508S, and a Cessna 310, N890GR, collided on the ground in the run-up area for runway 29 at San Luis Obispo Airport, San Luis Obispo, California. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. The Cessna T210L was operated by the private pilot/owner, who was not injured, as a business flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The Cessna 310 was rented by a commercial pilot for a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91, and neither he nor his passenger were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and both airplanes were preparing to depart. The Cessna T210L pilot had filed an IFR flight plan to Palomar, California, and intended to receive his clearance airborne. The Cessna 310 pilot intended to fly VFR to Santa Monica, California, and no flight plan was filed.

Both pilots were interviewed by Safety Board investigators. The pilot of the taxing Cessna T210L stated that the morning sun restricted his vision to the point that he did not see the Cessna 310 in the run-up area. The pilot of the Cessna 310 stated his airplane was stationary and he was looking inside performing prop governor checks and at the last second saw a "white flash" in the corner of his eye.

The right wing of the Cessna T210L was severed approximately 6 feet inboard of the wingtip when it contacted the right propeller of the Cessna 310. The Cessna 310 suffered damage to the right propeller, engine, right wing fuel tank, and sudden engine stoppage.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N2508S
Reported as
Cessna T210L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21061311
Airframe hours
5,750
Engine
Continental TSIO-520, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Don Ernst
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 14, 2000 · 81 hours before
Departed
SBP · San Luis Obispo, CA
Destination
Palomar, CA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
SBP · San Luis Obispo County-Mc Ches, runway 29, 4,799 × 150 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.

Registration
N890GR
Reported as
Cessna 310
Category
Airplane
Serial number
C3104-0130
Airframe hours
6,348
Engine
Continental IO-470D, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Alan W. F. Stanley, doing business as Executive Aero Service Center
Registered owner
Alan W. F. Stanley
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 11, 2000 · 178 hours before
Departed
SBP · San Luis Obispo
Destination
SMO · Santa Monica, CA
Airport
SBP · San Luis Obispo County-Mc Ches, runway 29, 4,799 × 150 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N2508S
Age
51
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
March 1, 1999
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,704 total · 2,320 in this make and model · 2,600 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N890GR
Age
24
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
April 8, 2000
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,620 total · 79 in this make and model · 1,510 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
43 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.17 inHg
Observed at
SBP

FAA reports on this event · 1

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