# NTSB WPR12CA284: Cessna 210-5, N8450Z, West Glacier, MT, July 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2012, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: West Glacier, MT - Coordinates: 48.479442, -113.959999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4794&lon=-113.9600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84154 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA284 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84154/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84154 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA284 ## Probable cause The pilot elected to abort the takeoff without sufficient runway available to land and stop the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the illusion created by the rising terrain, which influenced the pilot's decision to abort the takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 210-5(205), 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated normally on the takeoff roll. It became airborne between 1,000 and 1,200 feet down the 2,500-foot runway, had a positive rate of climb, but was not climbing as he would have expected. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and reduced power but then realized that he did not have enough runway remaining to land. As the pilot was adding power to abort the landing the airplane contacted the ground, departed the runway, and came to rest about 1/4 mile beyond the end of the runway after colliding with a log. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that he felt the optical illusion of rising terrain and a rising runway caused him to feel that the airplane was not climbing adequately. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated normally on the takeoff roll, became airborne between 1,000 and 1,200 feet down the 2,500-foot runway, had a positive rate of climb, but wasn’t climbing as he would have expected. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and reduced power, but then realized that he did not have enough runway remaining to land. As the pilot was adding power to abort the landing the airplane contacted the ground, departed the runway and came to rest about one-quarter mile beyond the end of the runway after colliding with a log. The pilot stated that he felt the optical illusion of rising terrain and a rising runway caused him to feel that the airplane was not climbing adequately. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8450Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8450Z-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 2050450, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210-5 - Registry model: [Cessna 210-5(205)](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210-5-205) (registry code 2073202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 205-0450 - Airframe hours: 2805 - Engines: Continental IO-470S 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard G Finkle - Registered owner: Richard G Finkle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2011, 114 hours before - Departed: 2MT1, West Glacier, MT - Destination: 8U2, Schafer Meadows, MT - Airport: 2MT1, Ryan Field, runway 15, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 7,295 total, 7,181 in this make and model, 7,181 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: GPI, 15 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 20120702012919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120702012919A), Jul 2, 2012: Cessna 210-5(205), West Glacier, MT, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Holder of com pilot cert [privacy data omitted] operating N8450Z a CE-210-5 (205), departed Ryan Field, 2MT1, a 2500 ft long mountain… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84154. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF 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.