CAA: GA News, "Accident Reports"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@cwnet.com>]

Friday, June 9, 2000

Spatial disorientation kills three, destroys Cessna 210 during IFR approach
Accident Reports
GA News


These 1997 Accident Reports are provided by the National Transportation
Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, they are intended to help
pilots learn from the misfortune of others.

***

Aircraft: Cessna 210M.

Location: Elliston, Virginia.

Injuries: Three fatal.

Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The pilot filed an instrument flight plan and
departed on an IFR proficiency flight with two passengers, both of whom were
certified flight instructors. The pilot’s wife said he was to receive
refresher instrument training, but the pilot was not scheduled to fly with
anyone from the local flight school, including his CFI-rated passengers.
Neither CFI had experience in Cessna 210s. The airplane was vectored for an
LDA Runway 6 Approach in instrument meteorological conditions. All radio
communications were normal. The airplane was observed on radar turning away
from the final approach course. No further communications were received from
the airplane, and it descended below radar coverage. A witness on the ground
saw the airplane exit and reenter the clouds, and then heard a reduction in
engine power. The airplane descended from the base of the clouds in a
nose-down vertical descent with the wings intact. According to the witness,
the engine noise increased, and a “swoosh” and a “bang” followed.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane due
to spatial disorientation.

***

Aircraft: Kitfox IV-200.

Location: Fairbanks, Alaska.

Injuries: None.

Aircraft damage: Moderate.

What reportedly happened: The engine suddenly lost power about 15 minutes
after takeoff, and the pilot performed an emergency landing in a marshy
area. The airplane nosed over during the landing roll.

Probable cause: Examination of the engine revealed a seized crankshaft
connecting rod bearing. Lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing
was cited as a factor.

***

Aircraft: Cessna 172.

Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Injuries: None.

Aircraft damage: Moderate.

What reportedly happened: The aircraft’s engine quit while in cruise flight.
A forced landing was made to a soft field and the aircraft nosed over onto
its back. The pilot said he did not check the fuel quantity before departing
for the flight.

Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection led to fuel
exhaustion and total loss of engine power. A factor was the soft terrain at
the emergency landing site.

***

Aircraft: Aero Commander 200D.

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas.

Injuries: None.

Aircraft damage: Significant.

What reportedly happened: The pilot said he was making a local flight to get
some work done on his aircraft when the engine began to lose power. The
aircraft struck a wire on short final while making an emergency landing in a
field. It landed with the gear up, and the outer one-third of the right wing
was bent upwards. The pilot said the aircraft’s fuel pressure had been
erratic during the flight.

Probable cause: Improper maintenance led to a partially blocked fuel line
and fuel starvation. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the
emergency landing.


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