# NTSB MIA87MA064: Cessna T210N, N5498A, Jasper, FL, January 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1986, 22:44 local (Jan 1, 1987, 03:44 UTC)
- Place: Jasper, FL
- Location: 30.4559° N, 82.9342° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jasper, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4559&lon=-82.9342&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 19, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31975
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87MA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31975/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87MA064

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise - normal
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - level off - attempted
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG FLT IN AN AREA OF IFR CONDITIONS & RAIN SHOWERS, THE PLT REQD & RECD CLNC TO DSCND FROM 9000' TO 7000'. LATER, HE RECD CLNC FOR FURTHER DSCNT TO 5000'. AFTER A FREQ CHG AT 2237 EST, THE PLT INQUIRED ABOUT RADAR INDCNS OF ADVERSE WXAHEAD. THE CTLR ADZD THAT THERE WAS SOME PRECIP IN THE AREA (NR GAINESVILLE) BUT THAT HIS ROUTE OF FLT LOOKED 'PRETTY GOOD.'  AS THE ACFT CONTD, ITS ALT VARIED FM 4900' TO 5100' (AS INDCD BY THE MODE C TRANPONDER RETURN). AT 2242:53, THE MODE C REPLY INDCD 5100'; 12 SEC LATER, IT INDCD 5600'; AFTER ANOTHER 12 SEC, THE ALT REPLY HAD DECREASED TO 4300'; THENRADAR & RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST. AN AIR SEARCH WAS DELAYED DUE TO STRONG WIND & RAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS FND ON 1/1/87 IN THE AREA WHERE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT BREAK-UP. THE OUTBOARD PORTIONS OF THE HORIZONTALSTABILIZERS & WINGS HAD SEPD IN FLT. AN EXAM REVEALED THEY HAD SEPD DOWNWARD FM OVERLOAD FAILURE. PERSONS NR THE CRASH SITE RPRTD HVY RAIN & WIND WITH SOME LIGHTNING & THUNDER AT THE TIME OF THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5498A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5498A-1991-03-08), registration cancelled 1991-03-08, S/N 21063471 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063471
- Airframe hours: 1918
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael W. Sonnemaker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1986, 345 hours before
- Departed: HSV, HUNTSVILLE, AL
- Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,025 total, 500 in this make and model, 925 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VLD, 19 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).

- [Accident 19861231087329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861231087329A), Dec 31, 1986: Cessna T210N, Jasper, FL, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Had an inflight structural failure of the aircraft. Severe to extreme turbulence. Was advised of route turbulence.

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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