Pilot Debrief

CESSNA T210L near Boise, ID — 2013-02-03

Final reportWPR13LA111
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Date
2013-02-03
Location
Boise, ID, USA
Airport
BOI
Aircraft
CESSNA T210L
Registration
N8465L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath and stabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had been with the company about 2 weeks, and a pilot-rated passenger was on board the airplane to instruct the pilot on the use of the equipment associated with aerial survey work. The pilot had not previously flown this make/model airplane, so the passenger was also facilitating the pilot's understanding of the airplane and its individual characteristics. The pilot completed about 3 hours of survey work and then proceeded to the airport for an instrument landing system approach. The pilot reported that, as the airplane neared the decision height, he observed lights on the ground, which he believed were part of the airport environment, so he continued the approach. When he subsequently determined that the approach was unstable, it was too late to execute a missed approach, and he landed the airplane short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot and passenger safely exited the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have executed a missed approach when the approach became unstable.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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