CESSNA T210M near Ogden, UT — 2010-12-06

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain clearance from obstacles after descending below the published approach decision height when visibility was less than published approach minimums due to heavy ground fog and he did not execute a missed approach after failing to establish a stabilized approach inside of the final approach fix.

NTSB narrative

Although the pilot stated that he did not remember anything beyond being concerned about the weather, recorded air traffic control communications revealed that he acquired a weather update while en route to his home airport that indicated that the weather at his destination was steadily deteriorating toward instrument meteorological conditions. He therefore filed and activated an instrument flight rules flight plan. As he neared his destination, but before being vectored toward a localizer intercept for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, the pilot was advised that the visibility was 1/4 mile less than the published approach minimums. Soon thereafter a turbojet airplane attempting the same ILS approach reported conducting a missed approach and requested vectors to an airport with better visibility. The accident pilot continued the approach but did not stabilize his airspeed or intercept the localizer once inside the final approach fix. Although his failure to establish a stabilized approach should have led him to initiate a missed approach, the pilot continued the approach and contacted the tower controller. The controller gave him an updated visibility report that was 1/2 mile below the published approach minimums; however, the pilot elected to continue the approach. As he did so, he descended below the approach decision height and impacted a power pole and trees about 1/2 mile from the end of the runway.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Controlled flight into terrain

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have diverted to Provo instead of continuing approach to Ogden.

NTSB coding

• Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) · Approach-IFR final approach
• Decision Making / Judgment

Evidence available

• Photos
• 25 docket documents

Docket documents25

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15form
• Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigationinterview
• Approach Raw Data from GPSother
• Final Approach Overlay - 060 to Intercept Localizerother
• Final Approach Overlay - Switch to Towerother
• Final Approach Overlay - We Are Correctingother
• GPS Raw Data Graphother
• Google Earth Map - Impact Areaother
• Ogden-Hinckley (OGD) Approach Plate for ILS 3other
• Image 1. View of the cockpit and instrument panel areas, which have sustained extensive thermal damage.photos
• Image 10. View of the cambered faces of all three propeller blades, showing scarring and leading edge indentations.photos
• Image 11. Side view of all three propeller blades, showing span-wise distortion.photos
• Image 12. View of non-cambered faces of all three blades, showing scarring and leading edge indentations.photos
• Image 13. View of the altimeter face, with the Kollsman Window setting of 30.25 visible near the center of the photo.photos
• Image 2. View of the remains of the right wing, which sustained extensive impact and thermal damage.photos
• Image 3. View of the remains of the left wing, which sustained extensive impact and thermal damage.photos
• Image 4. View of right horizontal stabilizer, which sustained extensive impact damage, and is coated with ash from the fire.photos
• Image 5. View of left horizontal stabilizer, which sustained extensive aft-crushing impact damage.photos
• Image 6. View of the left side of the engine.photos
• Image 7. View of the right side of the engine, showing impact damage to the oil cooler.photos
• Image 8. View of the electrode end of all 12 spark plugs.photos
• Image 9. View of the #5 cylinder deck. Cylinder was removed for internal inspection.photos
• Approach Track Last 5 Points from GPSradar
• Approach Track from GPSradar

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