Cessna T210M accident near Ogden, Utah, December 6, 2010
On December 6, 2010, a Cessna T210M, registered N77CF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Ogden, Utah (Ogden-Hinckley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain clearance from obstacles after descending below the published approach decision height when visibility was less than published approach minimums due to heavy ground fog and he did not execute a missed approach after failing to establish a stabilized approach inside of the final approach fix.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 2010
- Place
- Ogden, Utah · Ogden-Hinckley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N77CF · no longer on the register · serial 21062679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Although the pilot stated that he did not remember anything beyond being concerned about the weather, recorded air traffic control communications revealed that he acquired a weather update while en route to his home airport that indicated that the weather at his destination was steadily deteriorating toward instrument meteorological conditions. He therefore filed and activated an instrument flight rules flight plan. As he neared his destination, but before being vectored toward a localizer intercept for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, the pilot was advised that the visibility was 1/4 mile less than the published approach minimums. Soon thereafter a turbojet airplane attempting the same ILS approach reported conducting a missed approach and requested vectors to an airport with better visibility. The accident pilot continued the approach but did not stabilize his airspeed or intercept the localizer once inside the final approach fix. Although his failure to establish a stabilized approach should have led him to initiate a missed approach, the pilot continued the approach and contacted the tower controller. The controller gave him an updated visibility report that was 1/2 mile below the published approach minimums; however, the pilot elected to continue the approach. As he did so, he descended below the approach decision height and impacted a power pole and trees about 1/2 mile from the end of the runway.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Altitude deviation during approach (IFR final approach)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 825 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 775 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Ck Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 1L8 Hurricane UT at 11:23 pm
- Destination: KOGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.