# NTSB LAX97LA255: Cessna T210L, N732DD, Corona, CA, July 24, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1997, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Corona, CA
- Location: 33.8977° N, 117.6024° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CORONA MUNI (AJO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8977&lon=-117.6024&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29847/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA255

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper landing flare.  Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot to correct a landing induced porpoise, and go-around.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he flared higher than he would have liked which made his landing too hard and the airplane to porpoise.  The nose gear failed causing a fire which totally consumed the aircraft.  He did not attempt a go-around.

## Factual narrative

On July 24, 1997, about 1000 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N732DD, was destroyed by fire after a hard landing at the Corona, California, airport.  Neither the owner/pilot nor the passenger was injured.  An instrument flight plan was filed for the personal flight.  Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the landing.  The personal flight originated at Long Beach, California, about 0930.

According to the pilot's report, he began his landing flare higher than he would have liked.  He said that this caused his landing to be too hard, the airplane to porpoise twice, and the nose landing gear to collapse.  A fire erupted from the ground contact of the nose section.  The pilot did not attempt a go-around.  There were no reported mechanical problems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N732DD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732DD-1997-11-04), registration cancelled 1997-11-04, S/N 21061426 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna T210L
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T210L61426
- Airframe hours: 2898
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary F. Hathaway
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1997, 66 hours before
- Departed: KLGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Destination: AJO, CA
- Airport: AJO, Corona Municipal, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 520 total, 244 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AJO

## 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 19970724019599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970724019599A), Jul 24, 1997: Cessna T210L, Carona, CA, Destroyed. Flared high landing. Dropped to runway. Folded nose gear. Burned.

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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