- Date
- September 3, 1994, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kettleman City, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N732DTCessna T210L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940903028339A
- Case key
- 28865
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's selection of the wrong runway for takeoff and his failure to maintain runway alignment. The sun glare was a factor in this accident.
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 the sun blinded him as he rotated the aircraft on the takeoff ground roll. The airplane drifted from the runway centerline and collided with some trees adjacent to the runway. The pilot indicated that the surface winds were calm and that he could haved effected a westerly takeoff; however, he elected to takeoff toward the sun.
Factual narrative
On September 3, 1994, at 0700 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N732DT, collided with trees shortly after taking off from a private airstrip near Kettleman City, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Riverton, Wyoming. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his three passengers were injured.
The pilot stated in the aircraft accident report that the sun blinded him as he lifted the nose on takeoff. The wing tip struck the tree branches alongside the airstrip, which turned the airplane into a row of trees.
The pilot did not report experiencing any preexisting mechanical failures or malfunctions. The pilot indicated that a takeoff in the opposite direction could have prevented the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N732DT
- Reported as
- Cessna T210L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21061440
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Willie Alves Rodrigues
- Registered owner
- Willie Alves Rodrigues
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 30, 1994
- Destination
- RIW · Riverton, WY
- Airport
- Ranch Strip
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
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total · 1,200 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N732DT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.