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WPR10CA190

2010-04-03 · Truckee, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TRK

Current FAA registration · N4137C

Make / Model
CESSNA T210N
Year of manufacture
1979 · 31 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790811
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4E295

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to identify the snow-covered runway, which resulted in an off-runway landing and subsequent collision with a berm.

Factual narrative

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he regularly commutes between the departure and destination airports, a majority of which is conducted in the winter months. While nearing the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot received an airport condition report from airport personnel. The report indicated that there was runway ice with a 1- to 2-inch layer of snow blanketing the surface. On final approach the pilot aligned the airplane for landing on runway 28. He flared the airplane over what he thought was the normal touchdown point on the snow covered runway. The airplane touched down on the airport property about 50 feet north, and parallel to, the runway. While on the landing roll the airplane encountered a snow berm at the edge of runway 19. The pilot opined that his extensive experience landing at the airport, and the relatively benign weather conditions, led to his complacency and deviation from standard aeronautical decision making practices; he believed this combination resulted in the accident. The pilot additionally reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to impact. As a result of the impact, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. While nearing the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot received an airport condition report from airport personnel. The report indicated that there was ice with a 1- to 2-inch layer of snow blanketing the runway surface. On final approach, the pilot aligned the airplane for landing and flared over what he thought was the normal touchdown point, when in actuality the airplane touched down about 50 feet north of, and parallel to, the runway. While on the landing roll the airplane encountered a snow berm at the edge of a cross runway that collapsed the nose landing gear and damaged the firewall. The pilot opined that his complacency and deviation from standard aeronautical decisionmaking practices resulted in the accident. The pilot additionally reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to impact. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa-Snow/slush/ice covered-Effect on personnel - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_WPR10CA190.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.