# NTSB MKC85FA070: Cessna T210R, N6101U, Eli, NE, March 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1985
- Place: Eli, NE
- Location: 42.9436° N, 101.4913° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eli, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9436&lon=-101.4913&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85FA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85FA070

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - meteorological service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - window,door - separation
  - airspeed(vmo) - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,rudder - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE TAKEOFF OR THE ACCIDENT. A FLT PLAN WAS NOT FILED AND NO RADAR DATA ON THE FLT WAS FOUND.THE OWNER OF N6101U ESTIMATED THE TAKEOFF TIME TO BE 2130 CST, MAR. 12 AND THE PLT TOLD THE OWNER HE WAS GOING TO UTAH. THE WRECKAGE OF N6101U WAS FOUND AT 1500 CST, MAR. 13 IN A SPARSLEY POPULATED SANDHILL AREA OF NW NEBRASKA. THE ACCIDENTSITE IS 180 NM N OF A DIRECT ROUTE FROM THE DEPARTURE ARPT AND THE PROBABLE DESTINATION. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS SCATTEREDOVER AN AREA 400' X 150' SE OF AN IMPACT CRATER WHICH WAS 3' DEEP AND 10' IN DIAMETER. THE LEFT HINGED WINDOW AND THE RUDDER WERE FOUND BETWEEN 1 AND 2 MI S OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE.METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ACCIDENT AREA FOR THE EVENING OF MAR. 12 AND EARLY MORNING OF MAR. 13 INCLUDED LOW CLOUDS AND SNOW SHOWERS. THE PLT HAD LOGGED 18 HRS FLT TIMEIN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND 2 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT TIME IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. NO NIGHT TIME WAS LOGGED DURING THE LAST YEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6101U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6101U-1985-06-17), registration cancelled 1985-06-17, S/N 21064900 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210R
- Registry model: [Cessna T210R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210r) (registry code 2073459) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21064900
- Airframe hours: 20
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-CE 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roger Billings
- Registered owner: Roger E. Billings
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1985, 20 hours before
- Departed: 31P

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 531 total, 24 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft unknown

## 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 19850312038569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850312038569A), Mar 12, 1985: Cessna T210R, Eli, NE, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Rudder and cabin door window found 2 miles south of main wreckage. Turbulence and icing forecasted in accident area

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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