LAX98LA291

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210R · Buckeye, AZ · September 11, 1998

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 11, 1998, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Buckeye, AZ
Injuries
5 minor; on the ground: 2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6153UCessna T210R
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 20, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980911023769A
Case key
43930

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's delayed response in recovering from a bounced landing combined with his delayed decision to abort the landing. The pilot's inadequate compensation for tailwind conditions and inadvertently raising the flaps to 10 degrees were factors 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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - tailwind
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Recovery from bounced landing - delayedPilot in commandCause
Aborted landing - delayedPilot in commandCause
Raising of flaps - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with objectLanding - aborted
Object - vehicle
Flight control,elevator - jammed
Aircraft control - not availablePilot in command
Forced landingManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Terrain condition - crop

Analysis

Although the windsock indicated runway 09, the pilot elected to land downwind because of obstructions on the departure end of runway. He touched down at 80 knots with 30 degrees flaps, about 150 feet beyond the runway threshold. After the aircraft bounced several times, he added 'some' power to stabilize the oscillations. Now nearing the departure end of the runway, he became concerned that he would not be able to stop. He applied power to abort the landing and raised his flaps to 20 degrees. During the abort, the aircraft stuck a car that was traveling along the airport boundary. After striking the vehicle, the elevator controls became jammed. The pilot reduced power and made a forced landing. A witness estimated winds as from the east at 10 knots gusting to 15. Skid marks were visible near the left side of the departure end of the runway. A postaccident inspection showed the flaps were at 10 degrees.

Factual narrative

On September 11, 1998, at 1345 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna T210R, N6353U, struck a vehicle and then made a forced landing during an attempted aborted landing at Pierce Agricultural Airport in Buckeye, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the certificated private pilot and his two passengers received minor injuries. The two occupants of the vehicle received minor injuries as well. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations by the pilot/owner as a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Minden-Tahoe airport about 1010 on the morning of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he arrived at his destination and entered a left downwind for runway 27 at 2,000 feet msl. In his verbal statement to investigators, he noted that the windsock was indicating variable wind conditions that shifted from a right crosswind to a tailwind. While the pilot acknowledged that the wind conditions were not favorable for runway 27, he still elected to use the west runway because of marked wire obstructions located at the departure end of runway 09.

The pilot made a final approach at 80 mph and touched down with 30 degrees flaps about 150 feet beyond the approach threshold. The aircraft bounced several times and he added "some" power to stabilize the oscillations; however, he was now nearing the departure end of the runway. Concerned that he would not be able to stop the aircraft on the remaining runway, he decided to abort the landing. He added power, raised flaps to 20 degrees, clearing the fence at the airport boundary.

After clearing the fence, the aircraft stuck a southbound passenger car on Arizona State Route 85 that parallels the western airport boundary.

After striking the vehicle, the aircraft banked right, climbing to about 50 feet agl. The pilot initially attempted to return to the airport but found the aircraft controls unresponsive. He reduced power and informed his passengers that he was going to make a forced landing in a cotton field.

A mechanic, working near the departure end of runway 27, reported that he looked up when he heard the aircraft touch down and then watched as the aircraft bounced several times. He heard the engine accelerate and continued to watch as the pilot attempted to make a go-around. He stated that he thought the flaps were in transit as the aircraft passed by him. At the time of the accident, he estimated the winds as from the east at 10 knots gusting to 15.

The pilot operating handbook (POH) states that the landing ground roll under a "no wind" condition is 825 feet. The recommended final approach speed is 70 to 80 knots with 30 degrees flaps. The recommended abort procedure directs the pilot to raise the flaps to 20 degrees, and to climb at 73 knots until reaching a safe altitude. After reaching a safe altitude, increase the airspeed to 80 knots and raise the remaining flaps.

Skid marks from the aircraft were visible near the left side of the departure end of runway 27. The main landing gear was located later along the highway.

An inspection of the aircraft revealed that the elevator controls were jammed against the right horizontal stabilizer. The flaps were extended to 10 degrees, the fuel selector was on "both" and the gear handle was down.

Aircraft

Registration
N6153U
Reported as
Cessna T210R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21094915
Airframe hours
1,150
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-CE, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Mark Lee Michelsen
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 28, 1998 · 30 hours before
Departed
MEV · Minden-Tahoe, NV
Airport
Pierce Agricultural Field, runway 27, 3,490 × 50 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
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
640 total · 500 in this make and model · 640 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 8 knots
Visibility
27 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
18,000 ft broken
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
GYR, 16 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.