Cessna P210N accident near San Martin, CA
On January 10, 1994, a Cessna P210N (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Martin, CA. 2 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 10, 1994
- Place
- San Martin, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.100°N, 121.600°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X00637
NTSB summary
On January 10, 1994, at 0730 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna P210N, N5384W, collided with the ground following an inflight loss of control during the takeoff initial climb at South County Airport, San Martin, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and included a witness reported indefinite ceiling, visibility 150 feet in heavy fog. The aircraft was destroyed in the ground collision sequence and post crash fire. The certificated private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; however, the remaining passenger incurred minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the mishap as a personal cross country flight to Mammoth Lakes, California. In a verbal statement, the pilot said that as the aircraft entered the initial climb after rotation, the airspeed began decreasing. He lowered the nose slightly to counter the decreasing airspeed and the aircraft hit the ground shortly thereafter. The owner of a fixed base operation at the airport reported that the aircraft attempted to takeoff on runway 32. The witness stated that the ground visibility was 150 feet in heavy fog at the time, and, that ice was present on the wings of aircraft parked on the flight line. The FBO line person who fueled the accident aircraft just prior to departure stated that he had to "scrape ice away from the fuel filler ports on the wings in order to open the fuel caps." The line person said the ice was like frozen dew and very rough in character. All of the ground witnesses at the airport stated th
Probable cause
the pilot's improper aircraft preflight inspection, and his failure to use pitot heat during the takeoff in icing conditions, which led to a blocked pitot tube. The blockage resulted in erroneous airspeed indications during the initial climb, which induced the pilot to reduce the aircraft pitch attitude to a point where the aircraft entered an uncorrected descent to ground impact.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
