SEA00LA152

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna P210N · Stanley, ID · August 6, 2000

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 6, 2000, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Stanley, ID
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3882PCessna P210N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 18, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000806040909A
Case key
49918

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

An inadequately performed short field landing procedure and excessive ground speed. A delayed corrective response from the flight instructor, tailwind condition, and a fence were factors.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fenceFactor
Short field landing/procedure - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Supervision - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Factor
Distance/speed - excessivePilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot reported that she had been practicing short field full stop landings at another airstrip prior to approaching the Stanley airport. The pilot flew over the runway to determine the wind conditions and opted to land with a quartering tailwind of eight to ten knots velocity. The pilot reported that touchdown was within the first one-third of the runway. The pilot then applied braking action, however, there was no response. The flight instructor also applied his side brakes about 2/3 of the way down the runway as the ground speed was still high. At some point the parking brake was also engaged. The aircraft, however subsequently traveled off the end of the runway, collided with a fence, then traveled down an embankment where the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. After the aircraft was recovered and righted, the brake system was inspected. It was noted that the hydraulic fluid had drained out of the system while it was inverted. After the system was serviced with brake fluid, the brakes were found to be functional.

Factual narrative

On August 6, 2000, at 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N3882P, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, ran off the end of the runway at Stanley, Idaho, and nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and the flight instructor received minor injuries. The flight last departed from Galena, Idaho, about fifteen minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that she had been practicing short field full stop landings (4) in the area before approaching Stanley. The pilot stated that she first over flew the airstrip to determine the wind direction and then set-up for a landing "uphill" on runway 35 with a tailwind. The pilot reported that the approach was normal and the aircraft crossed over the threshold at 80 knots. The aircraft touched down within the first one-third of the airstrip. The pilot then applied braking action to slow the aircraft, however, there was no response. The flight instructor reported that he also applied his side brakes about 2/3 of the way down the runway as the ground speed was still high. At some point, the parking brake was also engaged. The aircraft subsequently ran off the end of the runway and collided with a wood post and fence. The aircraft then traveled down an embankment nosing over and coming to rest inverted.

The 1451, Stanley automated weather reported the wind was variable at five knots gusting to 15 knots. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was from 220 degrees, with a velocity of eight to ten knots.

The Airguide Publications Flight Guide for the Stanley airport indicates that runway 17 has a 1.3% upslope, not runway 35, however, runway 35 is normally active. The runway surface is turf/dirt and was dry at the time of the accident.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Boise, Idaho, Flight Standards District Office inspected the aircraft at Stanley on August 8, 2000. The aircraft was still at the end of the runway inverted at the time of the inspection. The inspector reported that approximately 330 feet of tire mark impressions were still visible from the end of the runway leading up to the wood post and fence. The aircraft then continued for another approximately 68 feet before nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The inspector reported that the left main landing gear was in the retracted position, while the nose gear and right main landing gear were extended. The parking brake was found in the locked (engaged position). The right main wheel was locked and would not rotate. The left main wheel rotated freely and stopped when the left brake was applied.

The aircraft was then recovered and transported (inverted) to Twin Falls, Idaho. After the aircraft was positioned right-side-up on its landing gear, and in the presences of the FAA inspector, maintenance personnel applied the brakes and found them inoperative. It was noted, however, that the brake fluid had drained from the system while the aircraft was inverted. Maintenance personnel then serviced the brakes with hydraulic fluid and found that the brakes were functional.

Aircraft

Registration
N3882P
Reported as
Cessna P210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
P21000067
Airframe hours
2,058
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-P, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Barbara G. Grabowski
Registered owner
Robert C. Grabowski
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 3, 2000 · 6 hours before
Departed
U87 · Galena, ID
Destination
2U7
Airport
2U7 · Stanley, runway 35, 4,300 × 150 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
68
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,267 total · 1,170 in this make and model · 1,197 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 5 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SNT

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.