# NTSB LAX01LA248: Cessna T210M, N732RC, Marble Canyon, AZ, July 15, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2001, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Marble Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 36.740234, -111.850471 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7402&lon=-111.8505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 52749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52749/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA248 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use all the available runway and his failure to follow the prescribed short field takeoff procedure resulting in a loss of control during the takeoff roll. Factors were the short, rough, and rising runway, and the soft dirt surrounding the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rising (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause) - short field takeoff/procedure - not complied with, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The airplane lifted off in ground effect, veered to the left, and the airplane touched down off the runway in soft dirt and overturned. The pilot landed at Cliff Dwellers Lodge in anticipation of launching on a rafting trip. Lodge personnel informed him that his party would be leaving from nearby Marble Canyon. He did not shut the airplane down and taxied back for takeoff on runway 22, which was a 40-foot-wide dirt runway, 3,820 feet long, at an elevation of 4,217 feet. He used 20 degrees of flaps and the wind was calm. The runway was rough and jostled the airplane more than the pilot was used to. The pilot departed from midfield and the runway sloped uphill in the direction of departure. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states that a minimum ground run takeoff can be accomplished using 20 degrees of flaps and leaving the ground in a slightly tail-low attitude. However, it directs the pilot to immediately level off and accelerate to a safe climb speed. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2001, about 0930 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna T210M, N732RC, veered off the runway and overturned during departure from Cliff Dwellers Lodge airstrip near Marble Canyon, Arizona. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight was en route to the Marble Canyon Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he landed at Cliff Dwellers Lodge in anticipation of launching on a rafting trip. Lodge personnel informed him that his party would be leaving from nearby Marble Canyon. He did not shut the airplane down and taxied back for takeoff on runway 22. He stated runway 22 was a 40-foot-wide dirt runway that was 3,820 feet long and the airport elevation was 4,217 feet. He used 20 degrees of flaps and said the wind was calm. He thought the runway was rough and jostled the airplane more than he was used to. The pilot stated the airplane lifted off in ground effect and veered to the left. Then the left wing and landing gear dropped, and the airplane touched down off the runway in soft dirt. The landing gear sheared off, both wings contacted the ground, and the airplane overturned. A witness stated that the pilot departed from midfield and the runway sloped uphill in the direction of departure. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Page, Arizona, 20 miles away on a bearing of 040 degrees, reported that the temperature was about 82 degrees at the time of the accident. The Safety Board investigator computed an approximate density altitude of 6,800 feet. The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states that a minimum ground run takeoff can be accomplished using 20 degrees of flaps and leaving the ground in a slightly tail-low attitude. However, it directs the pilot to immediately level off and accelerate to a safe climb speed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N732RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732RC-2002-01-08), registration cancelled 2002-01-08, S/N 21061673, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61673 - Airframe hours: 1952 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Beach Imports and Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2001, 23 hours before - Departed: AZ03, Marble Canyon, AZ - Destination: L41, Marble Canyon, AZ - Airport: AZ03, Cliff Dwellers Lodge, runway 22, 3,820 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 1, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 803 total, 631 in this make and model, 705 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PGA, 20 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 20010715017249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010715017249A), Jul 15, 2001: Cessna T210M, Cliffdwellerlod, AZ, No damage. (-23) On the above date and time, PIC wintrode inadvertantly landed at a private unimproved landing strip (cliff dwellers AZ03) in lieu of the marble canyon… 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.