Cessna T210L N2142S

Summary

On 6 March 1997 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna T210L registered N2142S, operated by Starflight Simmons Aviation, was involved in an accident near Meridianville, Alabama, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 March 1997 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Meridianville, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Madison County (M82)

Coordinates

34.8706, -86.5702

Aircraft

Cessna T210L

Registration

N2142S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Starflight Simmons Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Tunica

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

MIA97FA095

3 people died.

the pilot's improper decision to takeoff downwind which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the airplane. The winds were a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a weather briefing, the pilot was given weather advisories for occasional IFR conditions en route, en route turbulence, plus a tornado watch that was just to the east of his location, moving east. Pilot-witnesses observed the airplane taking off on runway 18. The pilot seemed to be in a rush. The male passenger commented to one of the witnesses '...that they had a limo rented for 7:30 [1930].' The witnesses did not observe any action on the part of the pilot that 'would [be] consider[ed] [a] pre flight.' In addition, '...[they] noticed...the wind was blowing hard-maybe 20 gusting 30-35 kts. [knots] from about 310 degrees.' The witnesses observed the airplane start the takeoff roll 'downwind.' The airplane accelerated and the engine sounded 'smooth.' After rolling about 1,000 feet, the airplane began to 'hop as if rotation was attempted too early, it then lifted off immediately, banked at least 45 degrees left-nose high- veered left.' The airplane went 'out of control...in a slight nose high, left turn, close to stall configuration, [and] looked real mushy....' The flight lifted off the ground about 5 feet, the right wing dropped, almost striking the runway, then the left wing dropped. The airplane departed the runway to the left, proceeded over the grass between the runway and the taxiway, struck a runway light, a tree, and burst into flames. The reported winds 12 miles southeast of the crash site, about the time of the accident, were from 300 degrees at 23 knots, with gusts to 30 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.