Cessna T210L N29112

Summary

On 21 May 2012 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna T210L registered N29112, operated by Steven Dauenhauer, was involved in an accident near Boyd, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2012 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Boyd, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Dauenhauer Field (Private) (0000)

Coordinates

33.0225, -97.6367

Aircraft

Cessna T210L

Registration

N29112

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Steven Dauenhauer

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shreveport → Boyd

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12FA311

1 person died.

The pilot’s delayed initiation of a go-around and early retraction of the flaps during the maneuver, which resulted in a collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness reported observing the airplane on what seemed to be a normal approach toward the 1,800-foot-long grass airstrip before the airplane was no longer visible behind treelines. A pilot-rated passenger stated that the wind was calm during the straight-in approach and that the airplane had not touched down by about midfield, at which time, the pilot initiated a go-around. During the climbout, the pilot retracted the flaps. The airplane subsequently collided with the top of a treeline located perpendicular to the departure end of the runway, rolled left, struck more trees, and then impacted the ground. A postimpact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions with light wind prevailed at the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preexisting anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Estimated weight and balance calculations showed that the airplane was within limits for takeoff and landing. Airplane performance calculations indicated that the airplane should have had positive climb performance during the go-around; however, the pilot retracted the flaps when the airplane was about 900 feet down the runway, which left only 900 feet to clear the 30-foot-high treeline. Therefore, although the airplane had positive climb performance, the delayed go-around and early retraction of the flaps left the airplane in a position with insufficient distance to clear the treeline, which resulted in a collision with the trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.