# NTSB SEA97LA175: Cessna T210H, N6922R, Stehekin, WA, July 22, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1997, 19:00 local (Jul 22, 1997, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Stehekin, WA
- Coordinates: 48.340625, -120.700645 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3406&lon=-120.7006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42664
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42664/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA175

## Probable cause

The pilot's misreading of the windsock and subsequent downwind landing.  Factors in the accident were the sunglare and tailwind.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misread, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

During approach to a grass airstrip located in mountainous terrain, the sun was directly in the pilot's face and the windsock was in a shadow.  The pilot misread the windsock and landed downwind.  The airplane overran the runway and nosed over in a soft bog at the end of the runway.

## Factual narrative

On July 21, 1997, approximately 1900 Pacific Daylight time, a Cessna T210H, N6922R, being flown by an airline transport pilot ran off the end of the runway at Stehekin, Washington and nosed over.  The aircraft received substantial damage.  The pilot and his two passengers were not injured.  Visual conditions prevailed.  The flight, which was personal, had departed Seattle, Washington approximately 1820 for the flight to Stehekin.

The pilot stated that as he was approaching the field, the sun was in his face and the airstrip was in shadow.  As a result, he misread the wind direction and landed downwind.  The airplane overran the end of the runway and was substantially damaged when it nosed over in a soft bog off the end of the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6922R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6922R-2014-11-14), registration cancelled 2014-11-14, S/N T210-0322 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna T210H
- Registry model: [Cessna T210H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210h) (registry code 2073438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T210-0322
- Airframe hours: 5057
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ravens Limited
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1996, 32 hours before
- Departed: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Destination: 6S9
- Airport: 6S9, Stehekin State, runway 13, 2,630 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 5,814 total, 4,955 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19970721045779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970721045779A), Jul 21, 1997: Cessna T210H, Stehekin, WA, Substantial damage. (.4) During approach to a grass airstrip located in mountainous terrain, the sun was directly in the pilot's face and the windsock was in a shadow. The pilot…

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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