| Crash location | 34.174723°N, 116.066945°W |
| Nearest city | Twentyninepalms, CA
We couldn't find this city on a map |
| Tail number | N210NS |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 14 Jul 2005 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna T210M |
| Additional details: | None |
On July 14, 2005, about 1450 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N210NS, collided with a block wall during a landing overrun accident at the Bauer Airport, a privately owned airstrip near Twentynine Palms, California. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the airline transport pilot was not injured. A private individual owned the airplane, and operated it on the personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Lancaster, California, about 1400.
The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that prior to departing Lancaster he had spoken with the airstrip's owner, who also owned the airplane. The owner reported that the local wind was calm. The pilot indicated that after departing from the William J. Fox Airport in Lancaster, he flew in an easterly direction and arrived in the vicinity of Twentynine Palms. The pilot then elected to make a straight-in approach to the Bauer Airport. The pilot reported that he did not observe the windsock on final approach. The pilot landed on runway 09 with the wing flaps fully extended.
The pilot additionally reported to the Safety Board investigator that the airplane seemed to accelerate during the landing rollout, upon reaching the runway's midpoint. The pilot opined that he had encountered a tailwind. Because the airstrip had a dirt surface and was only 2,000 feet long, there was inadequate room to perform a go-around. Obstacles (a block wall and power lines) were near the departure end of the runway. The pilot further stated that despite his best effort, he was unable to stop before overrunning the runway's end and skidding into the block wall. The airplane impacted the wall while decelerating through about 20 miles per hour. The pilot did not report having experienced any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight.
The airport's owner reported that a windsock, in good condition, was at the approach end of runway 09 and 27. When the accident occurred, the pilot had experienced about a 15-knot tailwind. Runway 27 was available for the pilot to have used.
The Twentynine Palms EAF Airport (NXP) is located about 8 miles from the Bauer Airport. Between 1355 and 1555, NXP reported its wind was from 250 to 260 degrees, at 12 to 14 knots.
the pilot's failure to verify the current local wind condition that resulted in his selection of the wrong runway and an inadvertent downwind landing, a runway overrun and a ground collision with objects. A factor in the accident was the short runway and its dirt surface, which reduced brake effectiveness.