# NTSB LAX96LA072: Cessna P210N, N4598K, Grass Valley, CA, December 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1995, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.180633, -120.979896 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1806&lon=-120.9799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29354/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA072 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to follow the before starting engine checklist and ensure that the landing gear selector was in the down position, and the pilot's decision to takeoff with a known aircraft deficiency. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear retraction on ground, takeoff - roll/run - powerplant - output low - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - runway light - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT ABORTED HIS FIRST TAKEOFF BECAUSE THE ENGINE PRODUCED ONLY 25 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND NOT THE NORMAL TAKEOFF POWER OF 38 INCHES AT 2,700 RPM. THE PILOT TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH TO LOW AND WAS ABLE TO GAIN 3 MORE INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE, BUT AGAIN NOT FULL TAKEOFF POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SECOND TAKEOFF. AT 80 KNOTS THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE BECAME LIGHT ON THE LANDING GEAR, AT WHICH TIME THE LANDING GEAR BEGAN TO RETRACT. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SAW THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE UP POSITION AND MOVED IT TO THE DOWN POSITION. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY WITH ONE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR NOT FULLY EXTENDED. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK THE CONCRETE FOOTING OF A RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE POSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR LEVER IS LISTED AS AN ITEM ON THE AIRPLANE'S BEFORE STARTING ENGINE CHECKLIST. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE 8- TO 10-INCH DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE. ## Factual narrative On December 14, 1995, at 0800 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna P210N, N4598K, collided with a concrete footing after an on-ground loss of control during takeoff from runway 25 at the Nevada County Airpark, Grass Valley, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was destined for Novato, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed, but not opened. The pilot aborted his first takeoff because the engine produced only 25 inches of manifold pressure, and not the normal takeoff power of 38 inches of Hg at 2,700 rpm. The pilot turned the fuel boost pump switch to the low position and was able to gain 3 more inches of manifold pressure, but again not full takeoff power. The pilot attempted a second takeoff. At 80 knots the pilot rotated the airplane. The airplane became light on the landing gear, at which time the landing gear began to retract. The pilot immediately saw the landing gear handle was in the up position and moved it to the down position. The main left gear extended and locked. The right main gear and nose gear did not. The airplane settled to the runway and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck the concrete footing of a runway edge light under construction. The airplane continued another 50 feet and slid down an embankment. The airplane checklist reminds the pilot to check the position of the landing gear lever before starting the engine. The engine was examined by an Federal Aviation Administration aviation airworthiness safety inspector on January 3, 1996. During the examination, there was no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction found that would account for the 8- to 10-inch drop in manifold pressure. The engine was not capable of being run due to accident damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4598K (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000230 - Airframe hours: 2422 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: King, Larry W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 1995, 5 hours before - Destination: O56, NOVATO, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: O17, Nevada County Airpark, runway 25, 3,915 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,301 total, 1,412 in this make and model, 2,256 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BAB, 21 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19951214040499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951214040499I), Dec 14, 1995: Cessna P210N, Macon, GA, Substantial damage 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.