# NTSB LAX94LA095: Cessna T210L, N5211V, California Valy, CA, January 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 1994, 16:30 local (Jan 15, 1994, 00:30 UTC) - Place: California Valy, CA - Coordinates: 35.310169, -120.270805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3102&lon=-120.2708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28638 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28638/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA095 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - fence post ## Analysis The aircraft owner was enrolled in a pilot refresher training course and said that the flight instructor had him land at the airstrip in order to practice soft field operations. The pilot noted that during the takeoff ground roll the aircraft veered left off the narrow runway and struck a metal fence post with the left horizontal stabilizer. The owner said the fence posts were only about 10 to 15 feet from the edge of the 40 foot wide runway. The flight instructor stated that, because the pilot applied power slowly, he looked down to see just exactly what power level was set. When he looked up again, the aircraft was heading off the runway to the left toward the fence posts. The instructor reported that he took control of the aircraft as it collided with a post, regained directional control, and completed the takeoff. After an inflight damage assessment, the instructor landed the aircraft at the airstrip. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 1994, at 1630 Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210L, N5211V, collided with a fence post during an attempted takeoff at the California Valley, California, airstrip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local area dual instructional flight. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. No injuries were incurred by the three occupants of the aircraft. The flight originated from the Santa Maria airport on the day of the mishap at 1415 hours. According to a statement from the aircraft owner, he was enrolled in a pilot refresher training course provided by the Cessna Pilot's Association. The owner, who holds a private pilot certificate, was flying the aircraft while the commercial pilot flight instructor, provided by the Cessna Pilot's Association, gave dual instruction. The aircraft owner stated that the flight instructor had him land at the California Valley airstrip in order to practice soft field operations. The pilot noted that during the takeoff ground roll the aircraft veered left off the narrow runway and struck a metal fence post with the left horizontal stabilizer. The owner said the fence posts were only about 10 to 15 feet from the edge of the 40 foot wide runway. The flight instructor stated that, because the pilot applied power slowly, he looked down to see just exactly what power level was set. When he looked up again, the aircraft was heading off the runway to the left toward the fence posts. The instructor reported that he took control of the aircraft as it collided with a post, regained directional control, and completed the takeoff. After an inflight assessment of the damage to the horizontal stabilizer, the instructor landed the aircraft at the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5211V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21060861 - Airframe hours: 1872 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Marc Rambod - Registered owner: Marc Rambod - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 1993, 20 hours before - Departed: SMX, SANTA MARIA, CA - Destination: SMX - Airport: 6L3, California Valley, runway 17, 3,000 × 44 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,600 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F ## 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 19940114000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940114000669A), Jan 14, 1994: Cessna T210L, California Vall, CA, Substantial damage. Owner student lost directional control on takeoff. CFI failed to note drift CFI took over too late, hit fence post. 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.