2018 Cessna P210 Accident in Prescott, Arizona (N6500W)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On August 29, 2018, at approximately 2035 Mountain Standard Time, a Cessna P210, registration N6500W, was destroyed in an accident in Prescott, Arizona. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal operation under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot's objective was to maintain night currency by performing practice takeoffs and landings at Prescott Regional Airport (PRC). Initially, the pilot requested clearance to take off from runway 21L and remain in the traffic pattern. The ground controller informed the pilot that the pattern was full and instead offered runway 21R, which the pilot accepted. Radar data showed the aircraft joined a right traffic pattern for runway 21R. During the downwind leg, the flight path was not parallel to the runway and approached the runway's end. The aircraft then executed a long, teardrop-shaped 180-degree turn. Approximately 2.8 nautical miles from the approach end of runway 21R, the aircraft's heading turned right toward the runway. At 2032:59, the tower controller asked the pilot to confirm they were lining up for runway 21R. Four seconds later, the pilot acknowledged. At 2033:19, the controller instructed the pilot to go around. The final recorded data point occurred at 2034:17, with the aircraft located about 740 feet northeast of the accident site. At that moment, the aircraft was at approximately 5,050 feet mean sea level, or 145 feet above ground level, traveling at a ground speed of 99 knots. At 2034:24, the controller again instructed the pilot to go around, and another pilot in the pattern reported that the aircraft was on fire.