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Status Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date Monday 10 January 1994
Time 08:30 LT
Type Silhouette image of generic P210 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Cessna P210N
Operator Private
Registration N5384W
MSN P21000681
Year of manufature
Engines Continental TSIO-520-P
Crew Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Passengers Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Total occupants Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage Destroyed
Location San Martin, CA   United States of America
Phase Initial climb
Nature Private
Departure Airport (Q99)
Destination Airport Mammoth Lakes, CA
Narrative The pilot said that as the aircraft entered the initial climb after rotation, the airspeed began decreasing. He lowered the nose slightly to counter the decreasing airspeed and the aircraft hit the ground shortly thereafter. FBO personnel at the airport said the pilot attempted to takeoff with ground visibility of 150 feet in heavy fog. The FBO line person who fueled the aircraft just prior to departure stated that he had to 'scrape ice away from the fuel filler ports on the wings in order to open the fuel caps.' The line person said the ice was like frozen dew and very rough in character. An FAA inspector stated that he found a series of propeller slashes in the ground just beyond the end of the runway. A path of ground scars led through a damaged fence and terminated at the aircraft wreckage about one eighth of a mile from the runway end. No discrepancies were noted in the examination of the aircraft or engine.

Probable Cause: the pilot's improper aircraft preflight inspection, and his failure to use pitot heat during the takeoff in icing conditions, which led to a blocked pitot tube. The blockage resulted in erroneous airspeed indications during the initial climb, which induced the pilot to reduce the aircraft pitch attitude to a point where the aircraft entered an uncorrected descent to ground impact.

sources

NTSB LAX94LA091

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

Final report

Investigating agency: NTSB

Report nr: LAX94LA091

Duration: 10 months

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Revision History

Date/time Contributor Updates
21-Dec-2016 19:26 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
10-Apr-2024 09:21 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report]

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