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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

January 28, 1989 · Cessna P210N · N4737P

Durango, CO

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 28, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Durango, CO
Aircraft
Cessna P210N
Tail Number
N4737P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN89LA069

The ATP rated pilot was starting a scheduled Part 135, cargo run, departing on runway 19, a 5,000 x 50 foot, asphalt runway. The runway was covered by one inch of snow and a snow shower was in progress. The pilot said he did not remove snow from the aircraft prior to the takeoff attempt, because it did not appear to need it. The airport is neither approved nor equipped for instrument operations as required in the FAA approved company operation specifications. The pilot reported the visibility as '2 to 3 miles,' with calm winds and said he could not estimate a ceiling through the falling snow. Three FAA inspectors, who were 3 miles from the airport, said the visibility was less than 2 miles, and the ceiling was indefinite, less than 1000 feet. An IFR flight plan was filed. During liftoff, the right main gear entered deep snow on the right edge of the runway. The aircraft settled back to the ground and pivoted 270 degrees to the right. The nose and left main landing gear collapsed as the aircraft stopped.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING TAKEOFF. THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE CONDITIONS FROM AN AIRPORT THAT WAS NOT APPROVED FOR IMC OPERATIONS IS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Full Narrative

THE ATP RATED PLT WAS STARTING A SCHEDULED PART 135, CARGO RUN, DEPARTING ON RWY 19, A 5,000 X 50 FOOT, ASPHALT RWY. THE RWY WAS COVERED BY ONE INCH OF SNOW AND A SNOW SHOWER WAS IN PROGRESS. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT REMOVE SNOW FROM THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, BECAUSE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO NEED IT. THE AIRPORT IS NEITHER APPROVED NOR EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT OPERATIONS AS REQUIRED IN THE FAA APPROVED COMPANY OPERATION SPECIFICATIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE VISIBILITY AS '2 TO 3 MILES,' WITH CALM WINDS AND SAID HE COULD NOT ESTIMATE A CEILING THROUGH THE FALLING SNOW. THREE FAA INSPECTORS, WHO WERE 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, SAID THE VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES, AND THE CEILING WAS INDEFINITE, LESS THAN 1000 FEET. AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING LIFTOFF, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ENTERED DEEP SNOW ON THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND AND PIVOTED 270 DEG TO THE RIGHT. THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE ACFT STOPPED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 MST
Nearest AirportANIMAS (0nm N)
Runway19
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna P210N
Tail NumberN4737P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-P · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 1000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data