# NTSB LAX01LA075: Cessna T210L, N2508S, San Luis Obispo, CA, January 15, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 15, 2001, 07:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: San Luis Obispo, CA - Coordinates: 35.250293, -120.620574 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2503&lon=-120.6206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE - NTSB case key (mKey): 50937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50937/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA075 ## Probable cause (aircraft 3) The failure of the other pilot to ensure adequate taxi clearance between aircraft. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 3) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 (aircraft 3) 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. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N2508S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2508S), registered now, S/N 21061311, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210L - Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21061311 - Airframe hours: 5750 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 3 - Registration: [N890GR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N890GR), registered now, S/N 310H0130 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310 - Registry model: [Cessna 310H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310h) (registry code 2074220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C3104-0130 - Airframe hours: 6348 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N2508S; age 51; injuries: none; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N890GR; age 24; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010115001979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010115001979A), Jan 15, 2001: Cessna T210L, San Luis Obispo, CA, No damage. (-23) On January 15, 2001 at approx. 0735 PST at San Luis Obispo airport (sbp) aircraft N2508S a Cessna 210L taxied into aircraft N890GR a Cessna 310H causing… 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.