# NTSB NYC85FHD02: Cessna 210F, N5807F, Princeton, NJ, May 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1985, 21:30 local (May 29, 1985, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, NJ
- Location: 40.3582° N, 74.6667° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Princeton, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3582&lon=-74.6667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FHD02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35603/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FHD02

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED AFTER OVERFLYING MERCER CTY ARPT ON A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. THE ACFT HAD DESCENDED TO 900 FT TO OVERFLY MERCER AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED VFR TO PRINCETON ARPT TO LAND WHEN IT CONTACTED TREES AND CRASHED. THE WX WAS IMC AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND AT MERCER CTY ARTP AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT WAS IN RADIO & VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE MERCER CTY ARPT AFTER AN ILS APPROACH AND WAS CLEARED FOR A FULL STOP LANDING BUT ASKED TO OVERFLY AND PROCEED TO PRINCETON. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FIELD WAS IFR AND HE WOULD HAVE TO LAND AS THE TOWER COULD NTO APPROVE THE FLT PLAN. THE PLT THEN ASKED FOR A SPECIAL VFR DEPARTURE OUT OF THE CONTROL ZONE WHICH HE RECEIVED AT 2114 EDT. THE PLT REPORTED CLEAR OF THE ZONE AT 2116 EDT. THE CRASH OCCURRED AT 2130 EDT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5807F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5807F-2013-09-20), registration cancelled 2013-09-20, S/N 21058807, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210F
- Registry model: [Cessna 210F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210f) (registry code 2073418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21058807
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO 520 A 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kotard Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1985, 11 hours before
- Departed: CRE, NO. MYRTLE BCH, SC
- Destination: 39N, PRINCETON, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,033 total, 527 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TTN, 8 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 19850528020459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850528020459A), May 28, 1985: Cessna 210F, Princeton, NJ, Destroyed. Struck wires and trees at night while attempting to get to airport without IFR approach.

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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