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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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January 4, 1986 · Cessna 210L · N73SN

Lake City, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 4, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Lake City, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 210L
Tail Number
N73SN
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA86FA055

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM FLORIDA TO MICHIGAN THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING. 53 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT CONTACTED JACKSONVILLE ARTCC AND REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN VFR INTO THE CLOUDS AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT. ATC ATTEMPTED TO GET THE AIRCRAFT TO A CLEAR AREA BUT BEFORE THEY COULD THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS DESCENDING AND UPSIDE DOWN. THIS WAS THE LAST RADIO CONTACT. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT MANUEVERING AND DIVING FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION AND THE SOUND OF FALLING DEBRIS. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS VERY RAINY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT WRECKAGE REVEALED THE RIGHT WING FAILED DUE TO PLT OVERLOAD AND THEN STRUCK THE TAIL SEVERING IT. AFTER THIS THE FUSELAGE TRAVELED ANOTHER 1/2 MILE. EXAMINATION OF PILOT RECORDS REVEALED HE HAD A TOTAL OF 1.2 HOURS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME, THE LAST .2 BEING ON HIS PRIVATE PLT CHECKRIDE 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE CRASH.

Full Narrative

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM FLORIDA TO MICHIGAN THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING. 53 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT CONTACTED JACKSONVILLE ARTCC AND REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN VFR INTO THE CLOUDS AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT. ATC ATTEMPTED TO GET THE AIRCRAFT TO A CLEAR AREA BUT BEFORE THEY COULD THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS DESCENDING AND UPSIDE DOWN. THIS WAS THE LAST RADIO CONTACT. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT MANUEVERING AND DIVING FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION AND THE SOUND OF FALLING DEBRIS. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS VERY RAINY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT WRECKAGE REVEALED THE RIGHT WING FAILED DUE TO PLT OVERLOAD AND THEN STRUCK THE TAIL SEVERING IT. AFTER THIS THE FUSELAGE TRAVELED ANOTHER 1/2 MILE. EXAMINATION OF PILOT RECORDS REVEALED HE HAD A TOTAL OF 1.2 HOURS OF SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME, THE LAST .2 BEING ON HIS PRIVATE PLT CHECKRIDE 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE CRASH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:14 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210L
Tail NumberN73SN
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 6 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 57
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:54

Appendix: Source Data