NTSB Factual Report

On November 16, 2005, approximately 1655 mountain standard time, a single-engine Cessna T210M, N6029N, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain near the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah. The airplane is owned by PROAIR Inc., and was being operated by the pilot in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed, which had departed SLC at 1600 on a local flight.

In a written statement dated November 23, 2005, and in telephone conversations with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that en route to SLC he leaned the mixture but never set it to the RICH position as called for in the BEFORE LANDING checklist; he was not sure how far out it was. The pilot stated that during his turn from base leg to final while approaching Runway 35 for a full stop landing, he noticed his airspeed was getting slow (85 knots). The pilot reported that he tried adding power but the engine did not respond. The pilot stated, "I heard a pop, like a backfire and the engine quit. The pilot further stated that he then retracted the flaps from 20 degrees to FULL UP to try to extend his glide. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground about 150 feet from the approach end of the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported that he never used the airplane's BEFORE LANDING checklist when operating into SLC.

In a written report supplied to the IIC by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air safety inspector, and in a telephone conversation with a FAA certified airframe and powerplant mechanic who assisted the inspector, an engine run was conduct on November 28, 2005. After a serviceable propeller and a temporary fuel line were attached to the engine, the mixture control was advanced to aid in priming and starting the engine. The engine was subsequently started and ran without interruption. After the mixture control was retarded about one and one-half inches, the approximate position it was found in during the post crash examination, the throttle was pushed in rapidly. The engine backfired for about 3 to 4 seconds before running without interruption. When the mixture control was positioned to the RICH position and the throttle control increased, the engine ran normally.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper in-flight decision not to use the before landing checklist. A factor which contributed to the accident was the improper position of the mixture control.