# NTSB WPR09CA129: Cessna T210, N210NS, Twentynine Palms, CA, February 24, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 24, 2009, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Twentynine Palms, CA - Coordinates: 34.174999, -116.841667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1750&lon=-116.8417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73393/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he made a normal approach, and on short final a gust of wind forced the airplane down to the ground. The airplane went into soft sand and nosed over. The pilot's passenger reported that prior to reaching the airport for landing, he felt some light turbulence. As the airplane was nearing touchdown he felt turbulence again, and heard the pilot say 'oh no.' The passenger reported that it felt as if the airplane was pushed straight down and the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway. A ground witness about 1/4 mile north of the runway watched as the airplane came in to land. As the airplane approached the runway he saw the tail move sideways and then straighten out; he thought that the wind must have caught it. As the airplane continued on the approach, it seemed normal; however, as it got close to the runway, the airplane appeared to drop suddenly as if it was being forced down by a gust of wind. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he made a normal approach, and on short final a gust of wind forced the airplane down to the ground. The airplane went into soft sand and nosed over. The pilot's passenger reported that prior to reaching the airport for landing, he felt some light turbulence. As the airplane was nearing touchdown he felt turbulence again, and heard the pilot say 'oh no.' The passenger reported that it felt as if the airplane was pushed straight down and the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway. A ground witness about 1/4 mile north of the runway watched as the airplane came in to land. As the airplane approached the runway he saw the tail move sideways and then straighten out; he thought that the wind must have caught it. As the airplane continued on the approach, it seemed normal; however, as it got close to the runway, the airplane appeared to drop suddenly as if it was being forced down by a gust of wind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N210NS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N210NS-2009-04-20), registration cancelled 2009-04-20, S/N 21062266, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210 - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2106226 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-520-R9B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brooks L. and Patricia M. Bauer - Registered owner: Brooks L. and Patricia M. Bauer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BLH, Blythe Airport, CA - Destination: 61CA, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA - Airport: 61CA, Bauer Airport, runway 26, 2,600 × 80 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2007; flight hours: 389 total, 97 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: NXP, 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 20090224001999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090224001999A), Feb 24, 2009: Cessna T210M, Twentynine Pal, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Landed short on private airport 61C hit burm, and came to rest upside down. ## Other investigations on N210NS (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX05CA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA235), Jul 14, 2005: Cessna T210M (N210NS), TwentyninePalms, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to verify the current local wind condition that resulted in his selection of the wrong runway and an inadvertent downwind landing, a runway overrun and a ground collision with… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.