NTSB Factual Report

On December 16, 2005, about 10:20 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210, N41805, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted with the ground during landing at Witham Field Airport, Stuart, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Spruce Creek Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida earlier that day, about 0930.

The pilot stated he filed an IFR flight from Spruce Creek to Witham Field . When he was at 2,000 feet above the airport, the controller at the airport tower had him do several turns to get into a right downwind for runway 30. In the attempt to expedite the landing, due to an airplane waiting to takeoff, he came low on final turn to line up with the runway, lost control, and may have stalled. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

A witness stated that upon arriving on the ramp at the airport, while heading southeast, he saw a small airplane was gaining altitude when it banked left, to the north, while still climbing quickly. Then it appeared to just stall, at an altitude of about 400 feet, and fell to the ground rapidly. The airplane's position seemed unusual in relation to its location and altitude for what he is accustomed to observing for those types airplanes. He could not determine if the airplane was taking off or landing, although he did see it change direction 180 degrees. When he arrived at the scene of the wreck the female passenger was walking around a bit disoriented and saying that the pilot picked the wrong runway. He did not speak to the pilot. The airport manager stated that it appeared the airplane tried to turn around 180 degrees and went into a tail spin.

The responding FAA inspector stated that the pilot was attempting an approach to runway 30. The right wing first contacted the ground followed by the right main gear. The left main gear contacted at about the same time the right main gear and nose gear collapsed. It was at this point that the propeller assembly struck the ground and departed the airplane. The airplane continued down the debris field on the left main gear, nose cowling, and right fuselage. A gap in the ground scars supports that the airplane may have bounced back in the air for approximately five or ten feet down the debris path. The left wingtip struck the ground 160 feet down the debris. This is where the airplane came back down after the bounce. The flap position indicator was at 20 degrees and appeared to coincide with the indicator. The pilot stated to the FAA inspector that on his approach, his turn was wide when he attempted to salvage the landing, when the accident occurred.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain.