On October 27, 1999, a Cessna 210L (registration N76N) was involved in an aviation accident near Medina, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude during the final approach segment of the visual approach. A factor was the diminishing light conditions of a deepening dusk. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A 75-year-old pilot turned the airplane onto final approach and descended into transmission lines perpendicular to the runway about 460 feet from the approach end. The accident occurred at dusk with no evidence of engine or airframe malfunctions or pilot incapacitation.
Introduction
A 75-year-old pilot was involved in an accident while landing at an airport where he had based his airplane for about 20 years. The accident occurred at dusk when the airplane struck transmission lines during final approach.
Accident Sequence
The pilot turned the airplane onto the final approach from a base leg. During the descent, the airplane descended into transmission lines that ran perpendicular to the runway. The transmission lines were situated about 460 feet from the approach end of the runway. The lines were mounted on poles set in a valley, but the lines themselves were at approximately the same elevation as the runway.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination did not reveal any evidence of malfunctions with the engine or airframe. There was also no indication that the pilot suffered from incapacitation. The pilot had been based at the accident airport for approximately 20 years.