Cessna 210A accident near Aiken, SC
On October 28, 2010, a Cessna 210A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Aiken, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 28, 2010
- Place
- Aiken, SC
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.660°N, 81.597°W
- NTSB ID
- 20101028X12506
Official records · ERA11FA038
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 28, 2010, about 0934 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210A, N6655X, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Aiken South Carolina. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Beaufort County Airport (ARW), Beaufort, South Carolina, destined for Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK), Aiken, South Carolina. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. According to air traffic control (ATC) voice and radar data, the airplane was approaching AIK at 4,500 feet above mean sea level (msl) when the pilot requested to return to ARW due to weather. The airplane was then observed by ATC to descend, do two complete 360 degree turns before descending below the radar coverage area. According to a witness, He heard the "groan of an airplane" pass at low altitude over his house on a heading of 102 degrees. He opened his window blinds but could not see anything. A few moments later he heard a "thud," and then a "kaboom." He stated that it sounded like "50 car doors slamming." He went outside and it was drizzling and he saw a dark gray plume of smoke "coming up." Moments later it began to rain harder. The airplane wreckage was later discovered by an employee of the local electric company after he observed a "flash" in the general vicinity of where the smoke plume was seen. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate weather planning and improper decision to continue a visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper use of in-cockpit next generation radar imagery for short-range weather avoidance.
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Browse: South Carolina · 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.
