NTSB Factual Report

On July 29, 2005, approximately 1745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210E, N2361F, operated by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while departing from Shively Field (SAA), Saratoga, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his two passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Elko, Nevada.

According to a telephone conversation with the pilot, he had stopped in Saratoga to refuel his airplane and suspected he overfilled the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that the airplane may have been overweight. In the subsequent accident report submitted by the pilot, he stated that he had attempted to depart runway 23 and aborted the takeoff when the airplane did not rotate. He stated that he taxied back to the end of the runway and set the mixture for "highest power." During the takeoff roll, the airplane experienced difficulty in rotating. Eventually, the airplane did lift off and the pilot stated he raised the landing gear. The airplane encountered a crosswind during the departure climb, "stalled and dropped quickly to the ground." The airplane impacted the ground and slid for approximately 100 feet. The fuselage, aft of the luggage door, was crushed on both sides and the empennage was bent up approximately 5 degrees. The fuselage belly had minor skin damage and both propeller blades were bent. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

According to the aircraft weight and balance, the empty weight was 2,009 pounds. The pilot stated he had 78 gallons of fuel on board (468 pounds) and no more than 140 pounds of luggage. The take off weight of the airplane was calculated to be 3,260 pounds. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the maximum gross weight of the airplane is 3,100 pounds.

According to the Rawlins METAR (routine aviation weather report), located 27 nautical miles to the northwest of Saratoga, the winds were 240 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 19 knots, and the temperature was 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Density altitude was calculated to be approximately 10,150 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation. Contributing factors include the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush, the pilot's failure to calculate a weight and balance, and the high density altitude.