Cessna 210B N210M

Summary

On 11 June 1994 at about 19:25 local time, a Cessna 210B registered N210M, operated by Donald W. Stringer, was involved in an accident near Culpepper, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 June 1994 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Culpepper, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.4695, -77.9994

Aircraft

Cessna 210B

Registration

N210M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Donald W. Stringer

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Manassas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO94FA096

2 people died.

the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of control of the aircraft. Contributing factors were the low ceilings and clouds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had received an inflight weather briefing at 1353 advising him of light to moderate rain showers and marginal VFR conditions en route to the destination. At 1423 he contacted ARTCC and reported he was headed eastbound at 13,500 feet. About 15 minutes later he requested a slow descent to get out of the clouds. He subsequently reported descending through 8,000 feet to 'whatever it takes to get out of these clouds.' Radar service was terminated; however, the pilot subsequently radioed that he needed help and was lost, indicating that he had turned around after encountering clouds and he was now circling over two towns. ATC informed the pilot that he was below radar coverage and he needed to climb. He was later radar identified at 3600 feet and thereafter he radioed 'I'm in clouds right now you need to get me out...' At 1521, the flight was headed east at 7,000 feet when the controller advised the pilot of reported VFR conditions to the north. The pilot acknowledged and was given a north heading. ATC subsequently queried him about his heading and the pilot replied 'I'm trying.' Radar and radio contact with the flight was lost soon afterwards. Witnesses reported the airplane descended from clouds in a steep attitude. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing, outboard right wing, left stabilator and elevator had separated in flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.