Accident Narrative
On December 2, 2023, at approximately 1343 Pacific standard time, a Cessna P210N, registration N7LV, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion at Big Bear City Airport (L35), Big Bear, California. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country trip.
The pilot reported that after landing at L35, he topped off the wing fuel tanks and taxied to runway 26 for the return flight to Fullerton Municipal Airport (FUL), Fullerton, California. During the takeoff roll, he applied takeoff power and rotated at 80 knots. Shortly after lifting off, he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot checked the positions of his engine control levers and then attempted to land on the remaining runway, stating there was no time to troubleshoot. As the airplane descended back to the runway, he heard the engine wind down to a stop. He applied maximum braking but was unable to stop before exiting the end of the runway. The airplane then impacted a fence, crossed a road, and nosed over in soft soil, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Video Evidence
A video of the accident airplane during the departure was captured by an individual located on the airport ramp. The footage shows a normal departure roll, with the airplane leaving the runway at the 3,000 ft runway marker and climbing to about 40 ft above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the airplane began to descend, and the tail started to oscillate up and down. The video ends as the airplane stabilized near the 1,000 ft runway marker at about 5 ft above the runway.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane’s fuel system was examined, and no anomalies were noted. Flight control continuity was established, and the flaps were found near their retracted position. All cockpit controls were connected to their respective components and functioned normally. The propeller assembly and propeller governor were examined and tested, revealing no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Maintenance Records
Maintenance records indicated that the last 100-hour inspection was performed on August 18, 2023, by PropJet Aviation in Windsor, California. At that time, the airplane had a total airframe time of 5,545.4 hours; the engine total time since new was 1,679.0 hours; and the propeller had been installed new 525.0 hours before the inspection. The airplane had accumulated 9.3 hours of operation since the inspection.