On October 14, 1983, a Cessna 210-5 (205) (registration N8370Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Schurz, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The non-instrument rated pilot encountered instrument conditions at night and lost control of the aircraft in flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A non-instrument rated pilot on a cross-country VFR flight encountered instrument conditions at night, lost control, and the aircraft sustained an inflight structural failure due to overloads before impacting the ground in a near-vertical attitude.
Flight Details
The aircraft was on a cross-country flight conducted under visual flight rules (VFR). The flight took place at night.
Pilot Qualification and Weather Encounter
The pilot was not instrument rated. During the flight, the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at night. The pilot subsequently lost control of the aircraft while in flight.
Pilot Communications
The last transmission from the pilot indicated that he was in a dive and was aware of the situation.
Structural Failure and Impact
Post-crash investigation revealed evidence of an inflight structural failure resulting from overloads. The aircraft struck the ground in a near-vertical attitude.
Probable cause
The non-instrument rated pilot encountered instrument conditions at night and lost control of the aircraft in flight.
What happened in the 14 Oct 1983 Cessna 210-5 (205) accident near Schurz, NV?
A non-instrument rated pilot on a cross-country VFR flight encountered instrument conditions at night, lost control, and the aircraft sustained an inflight structural failure due to overloads before impacting the ground in a near-vertical attitude.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 14 Oct 1983 involved a Cessna 210-5 (205), registration N8370Z, at Schurz, NV.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The non-instrument rated pilot encountered instrument conditions at night and lost control of the aircraft in flight.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…