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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

January 17, 1986 · Cessna T210N · N222CL

Indio, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 17, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Indio, CA
Aircraft
Cessna T210N
Tail Number
N222CL
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX86FA092

THE PLT WAS ON A 21 MI FLT FM HIS HOME ARPT TO THERMAL, CA, TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LNDGS. BFR DEPARTING, HE SUCCESSFULLYREAD BACK A VFR CLNC TO FLY OUT OF THE PALM SPRINGS TRSA. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE EN ROUTE TWD THE SE (TWD THE SUN,WHICH WAS 22 DEG ABV THE HRZN), HE TOLD THE CTLR THAT HAZE & SMOG WERE MAKING HIM DIZZY; HE SAID HE WOULD USE OXYGEN. SOON THEREAFTER, HE REQD VECTORS TO THE DESTN ARPT. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED, BUT THE ACFT CONTD EASTERLY TWD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN (TRRN). THE PLT'S SPEECH SEEMED TO DETERIORATE AS HIS REPLIES BCM SHORTER & GARBLED. RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST APRX 8 MI NORTH OF THERMAL, WHERE THE ACFT IMPACTED RISING TRRN ABOUT 500' ABV THE VALLEY FLOOR. THERE WAS EVIDENCETHE ACFT CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE WX AT THERMAL WAS, IN PART: 25,000' SCATTERED, VIS 20 MI. ANOTHER PLT RPRTD THE TOP OF THE HAZE LAYER WAS AT 3000'. NO SPECIFIC MEDICAL CAUSE OR FACTOR WAS VERIFIED. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID HE WAS SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN SMELLS, SMOG & BRIGHT SUNLIGHT & THAT HE RECENTLY ACQUIRED A VIRUS & SEEMED TIRED.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS ON A 21 MI FLT FM HIS HOME ARPT TO THERMAL, CA, TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LNDGS. BFR DEPARTING, HE SUCCESSFULLYREAD BACK A VFR CLNC TO FLY OUT OF THE PALM SPRINGS TRSA. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE EN ROUTE TWD THE SE (TWD THE SUN,WHICH WAS 22 DEG ABV THE HRZN), HE TOLD THE CTLR THAT HAZE & SMOG WERE MAKING HIM DIZZY; HE SAID HE WOULD USE OXYGEN. SOON THEREAFTER, HE REQD VECTORS TO THE DESTN ARPT. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED, BUT THE ACFT CONTD EASTERLY TWD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN (TRRN). THE PLT'S SPEECH SEEMED TO DETERIORATE AS HIS REPLIES BCM SHORTER & GARBLED. RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST APRX 8 MI NORTH OF THERMAL, WHERE THE ACFT IMPACTED RISING TRRN ABOUT 500' ABV THE VALLEY FLOOR. THERE WAS EVIDENCETHE ACFT CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE WX AT THERMAL WAS, IN PART: 25,000' SCATTERED, VIS 20 MI. ANOTHER PLT RPRTD THE TOP OF THE HAZE LAYER WAS AT 3000'. NO SPECIFIC MEDICAL CAUSE OR FACTOR WAS VERIFIED. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID HE WAS SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN SMELLS, SMOG & BRIGHT SUNLIGHT & THAT HE RECENTLY ACQUIRED A VIRUS & SEEMED TIRED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:15 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T210N
Tail NumberN222CL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-R · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 4 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data