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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

March 11, 1990 · Cessna T210L · N94302

Mesa, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 11, 1990
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Mesa, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna T210L
Tail Number
N94302
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX90LA117

THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED SETTLING TO THE RUNWAY AFTER INITIALLY BECOMING AIRBORNE. WITNESSES INDICATED THE AIRPLANE THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, BUT NEVER CLIMBED HIGHER THAN 50 FEET. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AND IT APPEARED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT. A SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS 'STOL' EQUIPPED AND 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS WERE SELECTED FOR THE DEPARTURE. EXAMINATIN OF THE WRECKAGE CONFIRMED THE 20 DEG FLAP SETTING. THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS SET FULL NOSE UP. THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 58 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE AIRPLANE CHECKLIST AND PROPERLY CONFIGURE THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPUTE THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT BEFORE TAKEOFF.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED SETTLING TO THE RUNWAY AFTER INITIALLY BECOMING AIRBORNE. WITNESSES INDICATED THE AIRPLANE THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, BUT NEVER CLIMBED HIGHER THAN 50 FEET. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AND IT APPEARED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT. A SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS 'STOL' EQUIPPED AND 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS WERE SELECTED FOR THE DEPARTURE. EXAMINATIN OF THE WRECKAGE CONFIRMED THE 20 DEG FLAP SETTING. THE ELEVATOR TRIM WAS SET FULL NOSE UP. THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 58 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:50 MST
Nearest AirportFalcon Field (0nm N)
Runway4R
Runway Length5100 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T210L
Tail NumberN94302
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO 520-H-4A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (3 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal3
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 15 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:12
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data