Cessna 210L Safety Record

The pilot's intentional visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pressure to complete the flight to work in an emergency room.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while being vectored to intercept the localizer during night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Contributing to the accident was the operator's inadequate dispatch procedures, which did not prevent the pilot from flying beyond his duty day, flying at night for which he was not current, or flying in IMC for which he was not qualified by the company.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft and the exceedance of the manufactured limits, which resulted in an in flight break-up. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the clouds.

The failure of the #1 and #2 connecting rods during climb to cruise due to overheating, resulting from oil starvation. A contributing factor was the low cloud conditions limiting the pilot's visibility during the ensuing emergency landing.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in this accident was the night light condition which precluded the pilot's ability to adequately view suitable forced landing areas.

The fracture of the crankshaft due to fatigue, the propeller separating from the airplane while in-flight, which resulted in the propeller striking the empennage structure and flight controls, yielding the airplane uncontrollable. Contributing factors to the accident were the previous damage to the crankshaft, the company/operator management disregarding the engine manufacture's service bulletin mandating an engine teardown inspection after a propeller strike event, and the inadequate inspection of the engine by the company maintenance staff.

The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude during the final approach segment of the visual approach. A factor was the diminishing light conditions of a deepening dusk.

The failure of the pilot to follow procedures and directives established by the operator for his failure to fuel the airplane after landing following the first leg. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Findings in the investigation were 1) the failure of company maintenance personnel to comply with all instructions of Airworthiness Directive (AD) 94-12-08, and 2) the pilot flew a total of 1.8 hours in a multi-engine airplane after the first leg landing; 1.5 hours of which were as a flight instructor.

A loss of engine power due to a disconnected throttle/power lever, cable. Also causal was the failure of the mechanic to install a cotter pin in the throttle control cable attach hardware at the throttle control arm, and failure of the company quality control inspector to verify after the job was completed that a cotter pin was installed, which resulted in disconnection of the throttle control cable from the throttle control arm after takeoff allowing the throttle control to move from the full open position. A related factor was the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing.

failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude and/or clearance from terrain, while on a cross-country flight at night. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, the prevailing low ceilings, and mountainous/hilly terrain.

the pilot's loss of aircraft control as a result of spatial disorientation. Factors were: the pilot's lack of experience in instrument and night flight conditions, inadequate transition/upgrade training, and the dark night light condition.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS AND HIS SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE A FAILURE OF THE VACUUM PUMP AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN PARTIAL PANEL INSTRUMENT FLYING OR TRAINING.

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), HIS MISJUDGMENT OF ALTITUDE AND HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM USE OF DRUGS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S PROBABLE SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND THE NIGHT/WEATHER CONDITIONS.