# NTSB MIA89FA214: Cessna 210L, N2676S, Marco, FL, August 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1989, 03:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place: Marco, FL
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32305
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32305/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA214

## Probable cause

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), HIS MISJUDGMENT OF ALTITUDE AND HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM USE OF DRUGS.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S PROBABLE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND THE NIGHT/WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, unknown
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DRG AN ILLEGAL DRUG OPN AT NGT, THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE EVERGLADES, ABT 16 MI SE OF NAPLES, FL. SURVEILLANCE PSNL IN THEAREA SAID THE VIS WAS LESS THAN 1/2 MI WITH FOG/SMOKE. ABT 3 HRS EARLIER, THE NAPLES WX WAS, IN PART: SKY PARTLY OBSCD, VIS 3 MI, WND CALM. INV REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A SLIGHT L WING DWN, NOSE LOW, ATTITUDE, THEN BOUNCED & HIT A TREEBFR COMING TO REST ABT 270' FM THE INITIAL IMPACT PT. NO PREIMPACT MECH PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT. IN 1978, THE PLT WAS DENIEDA 1ST CLASS MED CERT DUE TO HEART DISEASE, DETECTED BY AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM. LTR, HE GOT A 3RD CLASS MED CERT (USING AN-OTHER NAME, DOB & SSN), WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM. HIS LAST MED CERT (USING AN ALIAS) WAS DATED 8/5/86.AN AUTOPSY SHOWED HE HAD ADVANCED HEART DISEASE. MED EXAMINER BELIEVED A MASSIVE MYOCARDIAL INFARCT OR INCAPACITATING CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA WAS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY, BUT NO DRCT EVIDENCE OF EITHER WAS FND. A TOX CHECK OF VITREOUS FLUID SHOWED COCAINE & BENZOYLECGONINE LVLS OF 1490 & 782 NG/ML. DRUG/ALCOHOL TESTS OF KIDNEY & LIVER SPECIMENS WERE NEGATIVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2676S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2676S-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N 21061349, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061349
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Robert S West Fall
- Registered owner: Stc Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 82 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: APF, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890805031069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890805031069A), Aug 5, 1989: Cessna 210L, Marco, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Crashed in everglades on a night illegal drug cargo operation. Pilot had suffered heart seizure. Drug test positive

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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