ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 162384
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| Date: | Tuesday 19 November 2013 |
| Time: | 18:10 |
| Type: |  Cessna T210M Turbo Centurion |
| Owner/operator: | Montana National Inc |
| Registration: | N6832B |
| MSN: | 21062843 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3549 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental TSIO-520 SER |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Flattop Wilderness area NW of Cedaredge, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Torrance, CA (KTOA) |
| Aspen, CO (KASE) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The instrument-rated pilot was flying the airplane inbound to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) on a night visual flight rules flight. While level at 13,500 feet msl, the pilot requested an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance, most likely due to worsening weather conditions associated with snow showers. The controller issued an IFR clearance and requested that the pilot transmit the necessary flight plan information. While the pilot transmitted this information, the airplane began a climbing left turn. After noticing the airplane turn about 180 degrees, the controller queried the pilot, who had not recognized the turn and stated that his autopilot had disconnected. The controller subsequently issued the pilot a heading back toward ASE, which the pilot accepted. However, the airplane continued to turn left and then began a rapid descent to impact. Portions of the left wing, left flap and aileron, and left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were found separated from the main wreckage area. It is likely that the airplane entered instrument conditions, and the pilot became spatially disoriented as he was coordinating the instrument clearance and was unaware of the airplane's left turn and climb after the autopilot disconnected. Further, during the final rapid descent, the design stress limits of the airplane were exceeded and an in-flight breakup occurred.
Probable Cause: The pilot's spatial disorientation while operating in dark night conditions in snow showers and his subsequent failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in overstress of the airplane and an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the loss of control was the pilot's diverted attention while coordinating for an instrument flight rules clearance.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 17 September 1989 | VH-AQH | 0 | Port Macquarie, NSW |  |
sub | |
| 15 September 1993 | VH-AQH | 0 | Gove Airport (YPGV), Gove NT | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Nov-2013 04:25 | Geno | Added |
| 20-Nov-2013 17:23 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 28-Nov-2013 03:33 | Geno | Updated [Time, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 29-Nov-2017 09:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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