Cessna 210D accident near Altavista, VA
On April 23, 2011, a Cessna 210D (airplane) was involved in an accident near Altavista, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 23, 2011
- Place
- Altavista, VA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210D · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.114°N, 79.308°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110423X91404
Official records · ERA11FA258
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FAA Personnel Statements (ATC): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Transcript - Potomac TRACON: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Transcript 1 - Roanoke ATC Tower: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Transcript 2 - Roanoke ATC Tower: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 22, 2011, about 2146 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210D, N3963Y, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain at Altavista, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Winchester Regional Airport, Winchester, Virginia, about 1956. Examination of voice recordings with air traffic control revealed the following. At 1952:12, the pilot informed Potomac Clearance Delivery that he was ready for takeoff. At 1958:22, the pilot checked in with Potomac Terminal Approach Control (TRACON) and was instructed to climb to 8,000 feet. At 2013:30, a controller with Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) commented to Potomac TRACON, "but he was on like a two seventy heading and I asked him where he was going and he told me direct Lynchburg so I would keep an eye on him." At 2020:59, the pilot stated to Potomac TRACON, "uh Potomac six three yankee just a little disoriented here." The pilot was then offered vectors toward Lynchburg, which he accepted. For the next 15 minutes, the pilot received vectors from Potomac TRACON. Potomac TRACON also provided vectors around moderate precipitation in the area. At 2042:41, the pilot checked in with Lynchburg West radar at 8,000 feet and received vectors for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to ru
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in actual night instrument conditions.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · 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.
