- Date
- August 18, 1992, 20:15 local (Aug 19, 1992, 03:15 UTC)
- Place
- Jackpot, NV
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N93336Cessna T210L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920818032169A
- Case key
- 27737
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot allowing himself to become distracted while searching for a landing light switch during a critical phase of flight and the resultant failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the dark night light conditions and the lack of ground reference lights.
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.
Analysis
The pilot said that during the takeoff initial climb he was bothered by the flicker effect of the propeller in the landing light. He said he leaned to the right and reached down to turn off the light. The pilot reported that 'they [the switch labels] were difficult to see and I spent an unknown, but excessive, amount of time trying to make sure I would turn off the correct lights.' The pilot stated that when he looked up the aircraft collided with the ground. FAA inspectors reported that there are no ground reference lights on the departure path of the aircraft. The night was dark with no moon.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93336
- Reported as
- Cessna T210L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21060366
- Airframe hours
- 2,530
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-M, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jack H. Ramsthaler
- Registered owner
- Jack H. Ramsthaler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 27, 1991 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- 06U
- Destination
- IDA · Idaho Falls, ID
- Airport
- 06U · Hayden Field, runway 15, 6,200 × 60 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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,035 total · 560 in this make and model · 932 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.