On January 30, 2005, a Cessna T210N (registration N1164U) was involved in an aviation accident near Glendale, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane was struck by lightning during the approach to land. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft was struck by lightning while on approach, damaging the left wing tip. The pilot declared an emergency and diverted to a nearby airport for a safe landing.
Incident Details
An aircraft experienced a lightning strike while on radar vectors for an approach in intermittent instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that the propeller was struck by lightning, and the electrical discharge traveled through the aircraft's structure to the left wing. The strike fragmented the rib structure and separated a portion of the left wing tip.
Weather Briefing
The pilot had received a preflight weather briefing that advised generally clear conditions en route, with widely scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms near the destination. The aircraft was proceeding in accordance with vector instructions at the time of the strike.
Aftermath
Following the lightning strike, the pilot was able to communicate with air traffic control using a backup communication radio and declared an emergency. The flight diverted to a nearby airport and landed without further incident. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures had been present prior to the lightning strike.