N7469E Cessna 210 accident

NTSB DEN93FA021 · 1992-12-31 · AURORA, CO · near FTG

Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant

Factual narrative

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT INTO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, AT WHICH THE WEATHER WAS IFR DUE TO FOG, THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INADVERTENTLY DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND DURING BASE TURN ON APPROACH WHEN HE ENTERED THE FOG. TERRAIN WAS AN OPEN SNOW COVERED FIELD. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT INTO THIS AIRPORT. THE NEAREST REPORTING STATION AT THE TIME WAS DENVER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHICH WAS REPORTING 6,000 FOOT SCATTERED CLOUDS. THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO THE PILOT BY DENVER APPROACH CONTROL.

Probable cause

COLLISION WITH TERRAIN WHEN THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO FOG WHILE CONDUCTING A VISUAL APPROACH. FACTORS WERE: INACCURATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type

Accident

Highest injury

Fatal

Weather conditions

Instrument Meteorological Cond

Light condition

Night/Bright

Ceiling (ft)

100

Wind direction

90

Wind speed (kt)

5

Temperature (F)

18

Nearest airport

FRONT RANGE

Distance from field

1.0

Airport elevation

5486

Aircraft

Sequence of events

Findings