Mechanical & Engine Failure · NTSB CEN11FA130
CESSNA 210B — Loveland, CO
| Date | December 27, 2010 |
| Location | Loveland, CO |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 210B |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Emergency descent Unknown or undetermined |
| Pilot age | 50 |
| Pilot total time | 480 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 206 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Miscellaneous-Intentional act-Suicide-Pilot - C
What happened
The airplane departed a local airport and maneuvered in the area of the accident site for about 1 hour 10 minutes. About 2 minutes before the accident, the pilot reported that he had "lost elevator control." Subsequently, radar data depicted the airplane maneuver about the same altitude before beginning a turn and rapidly descending to impact. Had the elevator failed, the pilot likely would not have been able to maintain altitude for the 2 minutes prior to the rapid descent. Further, examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the flight control system or airframe, and the signatures on the engine indicated the engine was operating at a high power setting at the time of impact. The pilot's postaccident toxicology test results revealed the use of antidepressant medications. The coroner ruled that the manner of death was suicide, and the flight profile was consistent with the pilot intentionally flying the airplane into terrain.