LAX02LA238

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210F · Willits, CA · July 27, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 27, 2002, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Willits, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6776RCessna T210F
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 29, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20020727018649A
Case key
55316

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

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Probable cause

the student pilot's misjudged, distance, and speed, and failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

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.

OverrunLanding - flare/touchdown
Distance/speed - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Proper touchdown point - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - roll
Terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment

Analysis

The airplane overran the runway and nosed over during the landing roll. During approach, the airplane was high, and the airspeed was faster than normal. It landed long, touching down about 90 miles per hour. The airplane touched down about three quarters down the runway, and the pilot applied brake pressure. The airplane departed the end of the runway and continued down a 30- to 40- foot embankment. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, with the nose facing 160 degrees. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On July 27, 2002, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210F, N6776R, overran the runway and nosed over during the landing roll at Ells Field-Willits Municipal Airport (O28), Willits, California. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Petaluma Municipal Airport, Petaluma, California, about 1030, with planned stops at O28 and Lampson Field Airport, Lakeport California. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was on the first leg of a three-part solo cross-country flight in an effort to fulfill certificate requirements for a private pilot's license. While on approach to runway 34, the airplane was high and the airspeed was faster than normal. The pilot attempted to increase the airplane's decent angle and reduce airspeed by adding 40 degrees of flaps. The airplane touched down about 90 miles per hour, contacting the asphalt a little over 1/3 down the runway. The airplane bounced twice, and he added power to cushion the second bounce.

The airplane touched down again, about ¾ down the runway, and the pilot applied brake pressure. The airplane began to skid; he released the brakes, and then reapplied them. He departed the end of the runway and continued down a 30- to 40- foot embankment. The airplane bounced and came to rest inverted, with the nose facing 160 degrees. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N6776R
Reported as
Cessna T210F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
T210F-0176
Airframe hours
1,976
Engine
Continental TSIO-520C, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Brian P. Kenville
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 17, 2002 · 60 hours before
Departed
O69 · Petaluma, CA
Destination
O28 · Willits, CA
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
O28 · Ells Field-Willits Municipal A, runway 34, 3,000 × 75 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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
45
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
111 total · 44 in this make and model · 40 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
95 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
29.82 inHg
Observed at
KUKI, 21 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2004, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 547 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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