Cessna 210H N44DJ

Summary

On 6 January 1996 at about 03:55 local time, a Cessna 210H registered N44DJ was involved in an accident near Columbia, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 1996 at 03:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Maury County (MRC)

Coordinates

35.6196, -87.0396

Aircraft

Cessna 210H

Registration

N44DJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cincinnati → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL96FA029

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to follow procedures/directives by flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without proper training/certification; and his failure (or inability) to follow proper IFR procedures and maintain proper altitude during an instrument approach, which resulted in a collision with obstacles (trees) and the ground. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, instrument weather conditions, and pilot impairment from use of a medication that is not approved by the FAA for use while operating an aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated pilot filed an IFR flight plan and proceeded at night on a cross-country flight to Columbia, TN. During arrival, he contacted Memphis ARTCC and requested the VOR/DME approach to the Maury County Airport, which was a straight-in approach from the northwest. The initial approach fix (IAF) and the final approach fix (FAF) were 11.4 and 5.4 miles northwest of the airport. At about 2136 CST, ARTCC cleared the pilot to descend and maintain 3,000 feet until past the IAF. At 2141, ARTCC informed the pilot that the airplane was 500' low; he responded that he was climbing back to 3,000 feet. At 2142, ARTCC cleared the pilot for the approach. The last communication with the pilot was at 2147, when radar service was terminated. At about 2155, the airplane collided with trees and crashed approximately 10 miles southeast of the airport. The weather (at 2200) was in part: 400 feet overcast, visibility 1-3/4 miles with fog and drizzle, and wind from 030 degrees at 4 knots. Witnesses reported that they heard the airplane circling before it crashed. The wreckage was found distributed over an area of about 600 feet. Toxicology tests of the pilot's blood and liver fluid showed 11 mcg/ml and 8 mcg/ml, respectively, of Butalbital. Butalbital is a barbiturate/sedative and is not approved by the FAA for use while operating an aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.