# NTSB LAX03LA283: Cessna 210L, N93860, Monterey, CA, September 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2003, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Monterey, CA - Coordinates: 36.589443, -121.849441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5894&lon=-121.8494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cessna, Continental Teledyne, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57899 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57899/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA283 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in a loss of engine power during an instrument approach to land, and an in-flight collision with a tree and terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported a loss of engine power while on an instrument approach to an airport. He was unable to reach the airport, and collided with a tree short of the runway. Postaccident inspection disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane or its engine. Initial responders to the accident site noted an absence of fuel smell or visible fuel at the site, although one wing containing fuel tanks had separated during the accident. No evidence of any fuel stains were discovered anywhere on the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2003, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210L airplane, N93860, impacted trees approximately 1/4 mile northwest of Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY), Monterey, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. The flight departed Columbia, California, about 1420, and a pop up instrument flight plan was filed for the approach into Monterey. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the engine failed while he was on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach into Monterey, at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl). He then declared an emergency to Monterey Approach. While descending through the overcast, he steered a direct course to the airport. He came out of the overcast at 1,800 feet msl. Initially, the pilot felt he may be able to land runway 10; however, the airplane landed short and collided with a tree. Initial responders to the accident site from the Naval Postgraduate School reported that the airplane came to rest on a golf course. There were no traces of fuel at the accident scene, nor was the smell of fuel present. There was no fuel leaking from the airplane. A portion of the right wing was located in a tree. Witnesses to the accident reported that during the emergency landing, the right wing hit a tree, the airplane spun, and then dove, nose-first, into the ground. There was no smell or trace of fuel at the accident site. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) and representatives from Teledyne Continental Motors and Cessna examined the wreckage on September 22, 2003. No anomalies were noted with the airframe and its components. The engine was examined and all spark plugs were clean with no mechanical deformation. The top spark plugs were removed and visually examined. The electrodes were white in color. The cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope. The piston domes were gray in color. Investigators manually rotated the engine. The engine rotated freely and the valves moved approximately the same amount of lift in firing order. Investigators obtained thumb compression on all cylinders in firing order. Both magnetos produced spark at all posts. The engine driven fuel pump was removed. After being primed with solvent, the fuel pump was rotated and ejected solvent from its outlet port. One ounce of blue colored fuel was found in the gascolator. There was no fuel staining evident on the airframe or engine components. Two fueling receipts dated August 28, 2003, indicated that the airplane was filled with 85 gallons of fuel. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) the airplane holds a total of 90 gallons of fuel, with 1 gallon unusable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93860](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93860-2006-05-05), registration cancelled 2006-05-05, S/N 21060439, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210L - Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21060439 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-H4B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hal Cunningham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2002, 35 hours before - Departed: O22, Columbia, CA - Destination: KMRY, Monterey, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MRV, Monterey ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 20, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 236 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KMRY ## 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 20030909027989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030909027989A), Sep 9, 2003: Cessna T210L, Monterey, CA, Destroyed. (-23) On September 09, 2003, at 15:22 PDT, a Cessna 210L airplane, N93860, impacted a tree while in a left gliding turn approximately 1000 feet short of runway… ## Other investigations on N93860 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI75FEK03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75FEK03), Aug 21, 1974: Cessna T210L (N93860), Columbus, OH, substantial damage 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.