At 23:31 MST, a Cessna T210L on a Part 135 cargo flight crashed about 11 miles west of Elida, killing the pilot. The pilot was en route from Albuquerque, N.M., to Lubbock, Texas, and was cleared to descend from 13,000 feet to 11,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, he reported he was picking up some ice, and wanted to descend to 9,000 feet. After some delay, he was cleared to descend. After a while the controller told the pilot, Youve reversed direction, and asked, Whats going on? The pilot replied he was losing [his] instruments. The controller advised the pilot of an airport at 5 oclock if you need to get down. The pilot said he needed to get down, and he was instructed to turn to a heading of 010 degrees. Fourteen seconds after acknowledging this instruction the pilot yelled, Im in trouble! Im in trouble! Examination of the wreckage disclosed indications of a near vertical impact. The airplane was equipped with dual vacuum pumps, deice boots, and a heated propeller and windshield, but it was not certified for flight in known icing conditions.
Dec. 8, Elida, N.M. / Cessna 210
At 23:31 MST, a Cessna T210L on a Part 135 cargo flight crashed about 11 miles west of Elida, killing the pilot. The pilot was en route from Albuquerque, N.M., to Lubbock, Texas, and was cleared to descend from 13,000 feet to 11,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, he reported he was picking up some ice, and wanted to descend to 9,000 feet. After some delay, he was cleared to descend. After a while the controller told the pilot, Youve reversed direction, and asked, Whats going on? The pilot replied he was losing [his] instruments. The controller advised the pilot of an airport at 5 oclock if you need to get down. The pilot said he needed to get down, and he was instructed to turn to a...
Key Takeaways:
- A Cessna T210L cargo plane crashed, killing the pilot, after encountering icing and subsequently reporting instrument failure during descent.
- The pilot, after receiving clearance for lower altitudes due to icing, reported losing instruments and reversed direction shortly before a distress call and a near-vertical impact.
- Although the aircraft was equipped with de-icing systems, it was not certified for flight in known icing conditions, a potential factor in the accident.
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