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NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 210-5 (205) · Schurz, NV · October 14, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

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Date
October 13, 1983, 20:52 local (Oct 14, 1983, 03:52 UTC)
Place
Schurz, NV
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8370ZCessna 210-5 (205)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
23894

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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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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - poorPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Vfr flight into imc - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Weather condition - snowFactor
Loss of control - in flightCruise - normal
Became lost/disoriented - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
QualificationPilot in commandFactor
Lack of experiencePilot in commandFactor
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionDescent - uncontrolled
Wing,spar - overloadFactor
Wing,bracing strut - overloadFactor
Wing,spar - separationFactor
Wing,bracing strut - separationFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The acft was on a crosscountry flight in VFR conditions. The non-instrument rated pilot encountered instrument conditions at night and lost control of the acft in flight. The post crash investigation revealed evidence of an inflight structural failure due to overloads. The last transmission from the pilot indicates he was in a dive and was aware of it. The acft struck the ground in a near a vertical attitude.

Aircraft

Registration
N8370Z
Reported as
Cessna 210-5 (205) (210-5 (205)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2050370
Engine
Continental IO-470-S, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
David L. Koch
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 28, 1983
Departed
01U · Duckwater, NV
Destination
RNO · Reno, NV
N8370ZRegistration cancelled Oct 13, 1984 · Cessna 210-5(205)S/N 2050370 · Built 1963Airframe modelCessna 210-5(205)Engine modelContinental I0-470 seriesReciprocating

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
40
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
350° at 4 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,000 ft overcast
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
NFL, 36 nm away