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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 12, 1992 · Cessna P210N · N9TG

Baxter, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 12, 1992
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Baxter, CA
Aircraft
Cessna P210N
Tail Number
N9TG
Operator
Amat
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA174

The pilot called center while airborne and requested an IFR clearance. About 15 minutes after receiving the clearance, the pilot was given a vector for traffic. The pilot said he needed help and asked if he was on course. The pilot then said he was in an unusual attitude and couldn't determine why. About 15 seconds later the pilot said 'Okay I'll ah we might be in a spin.' The controller said that he was showing the airplane as level and asked if the pilot was having problems. The pilot said 'Yes our vacuum ah our artificial gyro is showing us at a very unusual attitude.' The airplane was observed coming out of the clouds with wings separating from the airplane. The airplane had a vacuum system problem which was recorded as repaired and checked as OK about 2 1/2 months before the accident. The pilot had about 4 hours of actual and about 56 hours simulated instrument time. The vacuum pump was destroyed in the impact.

NTSB Probable Cause

1) A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE AIRPLANE'S VACUUM SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR, 2) THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND 3) THE PILOT NOT CORRECTING FOR A SPIRAL BY USING PROPER RECOVERY TECHNIQUES WHICH RESULTED IN THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE WINGS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTURMENT FLIGHT EXPEREINCE.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT CALLED CENTER WHILE AIRBORNE AND REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE. ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING THE CLEARANCE, THE PILOT WAS GIVEN A VECTOR FOR TRAFFIC. THE PILOT SAID HE NEEDED HELP AND ASKED IF HE WAS ON COURSE. THE PILOT THEN SAID HE WAS IN AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE AND COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY. ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER THE PILOT SAID 'OKAY I'LL AH WE MIGHT BE IN A SPIN.' THE CONTROLLER SAID THAT HE WAS SHOWING THE AIRPLANE AS LEVEL AND ASKED IF THE PILOT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. THE PILOT SAID 'YES OUR VACUUM AH OUR ARTIFICAL GYRO IS SHOWNG US AT A VERY UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.' THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS WITH WINGS SEPARATING FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE HAD A VACUUM SYSTEM PROBLEM WHICH WAS RECORDED AS REPAIRED AND CHECKED AS OK ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 4 HOURS OF ACTUAL AND ABOUT 56 HOURS SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME. THE VACUUM PUMP WAS DESTROYED IN THE IMPACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:02 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna P210N
Tail NumberN9TG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAmat
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-P · Reciprocating · 310
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data