# NTSB LAX92FA174: Cessna P210N, N9TG, Baxter, CA, April 12, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1992, 13:02 local (20:02 UTC)
- Place: Baxter, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27421
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27421/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA174

## Probable cause

1) A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE AIRPLANE'S VACUUM SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR, 2) THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND 3) THE PILOT NOT CORRECTING FOR A SPIRAL BY USING PROPER RECOVERY TECHNIQUES WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE WINGS.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTURMENT FLIGHT EXPEREINCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds
  - vacuum system - loss,partial (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - loss,total (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,directional gyro - loss,total (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - spiral - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - failure,total
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT CALLED CENTER WHILE AIRBORNE AND REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING THE CLEARANCE, THE PILOT WAS GIVEN A VECTOR FOR TRAFFIC. THE PILOT SAID HE NEEDED HELP AND ASKED IF HE WAS ON COURSE. THE PILOT THEN SAID HE WAS IN AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE AND COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY. ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER THE PILOT SAID 'OKAY I'LL AH WE MIGHT BE IN A SPIN.' THE CONTROLLER SAID THAT HE WAS SHOWING THE AIRPLANE AS LEVEL AND ASKED IF THE PILOT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. THE PILOT SAID 'YES OUR VACUUM AH OUR ARTIFICAL GYRO IS SHOWNG US AT A VERY UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.' THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS WITH WINGS SEPARATING FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE HAD A VACUUM SYSTEM PROBLEM WHICH WAS RECORDED AS REPAIRED AND CHECKED AS OK ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 4 HOURS OF ACTUAL AND ABOUT 56 HOURS SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME. THE VACUUM PUMP WAS DESTROYED IN THE IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9TG-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N P21000012, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000012
- Airframe hours: 1125
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Amat, Incorporated
- Registered owner: Amat, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 1992, 35 hours before
- Departed: TRK, TRUCKEE, CA
- Destination: OAK, OAKLAND, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 320 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast

## 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 19920412009619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920412009619A), Apr 12, 1992: Cessna P210N, Baxter, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Lost control in area of severe icing. Came apart in spin. Indicates pitot icing caused airspeed error. No turn slip

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.

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