# NTSB SEA06CA017: Cessna T210M, N6029N, Salt Lake City, UT, November 16, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 16, 2005, 16:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.771945, -111.962776
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7719&lon=-111.9628&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62835/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA017

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper in-flight decision not to use the before landing checklist.  A factor which contributed to the accident was the improper position of the mixture control.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - mixture control - improper (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

En route to the destination airport the pilot had leaned the mixture.  During the turn from base leg to final the pilot noticed his airspeed was getting slow.  After advancing the throttle forward and getting no response, the engine lost power.  The pilot then retracted the flaps from 20 degrees to full up in order to extend his glide.  The airplane subsequently impacted the ground 150 feet from the approach end of the runway and nosed over.  The pilot reported that the mixture control was not in the FULL RICH position for landing, and that he didn't use the BEFORE LANDING checklist, which calls for the mixture control to be in the RICH position.  A post accident examination of the airplane, which included running the engine, revealed no anomalies which would have precluded normal operations.

## Factual narrative

On November 16, 2005, approximately 1655 mountain standard time, a single-engine Cessna T210M, N6029N, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain near the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah.  The airplane is owned by PROAIR Inc., and was being operated by the pilot in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed, which had departed SLC at 1600 on a local flight.

In a written statement dated November 23, 2005, and in telephone conversations with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that en route to SLC he leaned the mixture but never set it to the RICH position as called for in the BEFORE LANDING checklist; he was not sure how far out it was.  The pilot stated that during his turn from base leg to final while approaching Runway 35 for a full stop landing, he noticed his airspeed was getting slow (85 knots).  The pilot reported that he tried adding power but the engine did not respond.  The pilot stated, "I heard a pop, like a backfire and the engine quit.  The pilot further stated that he then retracted the flaps from 20 degrees to FULL UP to try to extend his glide.  The airplane subsequently impacted the ground about 150 feet from the approach end of the runway and nosed over.  The pilot reported that he never used the airplane's BEFORE LANDING checklist when operating into SLC.

In a written report supplied to the IIC by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air safety inspector, and in a telephone conversation with a FAA certified airframe and powerplant mechanic who assisted the inspector, an engine run was conduct on November 28, 2005.  After a serviceable propeller and a temporary fuel line were attached to the engine, the mixture control was advanced to aid in priming and starting the engine.  The engine was subsequently started and ran without interruption.  After the mixture control was retarded about one and one-half inches, the approximate position it was found in during the post crash examination, the throttle was pushed in rapidly.  The engine backfired for about 3 to 4 seconds before running without interruption.  When the mixture control was positioned to the RICH position and the throttle control increased, the engine ran normally.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6029N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna T210M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062897
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Patrick M. Gibbons
- Registered owner: Proair Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT
- Destination: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT
- Airport: KSLC, Salt Lake City International, runway 35

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 877 total, 464 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20051116028709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051116028709A), Nov 16, 2005: Cessna T210M, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On base the aircraft was at about 5200 feet. On final the aircraft was at 85 KTS. It started to lose altitude so he added power. The pilot said that the…

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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