Incident Overview
On September 21, 2009, at approximately 13:40 local time, a privately operated Cessna 210K with registration EI-CDX experienced an incident during the takeoff phase at Ocaña Aerodrome in Toledo. The aircraft was equipped with a single Continental IO-520-LI engine and carried three occupants: the pilot-in-command and two passengers.
Operational Context
The flight was part of a series of local operations that morning. Prior to the incident, the aircraft had completed two takeoffs from runway 11. For the third flight, the pilot requested a change to runway 29 due to prevailing wind conditions. At the threshold, the pilot applied power to achieve 25 inches of manifold pressure and 2,500 rpm, deviating from the Flight Manual’s recommendation of full power and 2,850 rpm.
Sequence of Events
After liftoff, the aircraft began losing altitude while the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot attempted to lower the nose to regain speed but was unable to prevent a contact with the runway. The engine was subsequently shut down following the in-flight engine failure procedure. The aircraft came to rest with the left main gear extended and the other gear retracted, resulting in minor damage to the propeller, fuselage, engine cowling, and right wingtip.
Investigation Findings
Meteorological data indicated variable winds from the north, with potential tailwind components during the takeoff roll. Functional testing of the landing gear revealed an asymmetric extension sequence where the left leg retracted last. The investigation concluded that the incident was likely caused by a stall during takeoff resulting from insufficient power application relative to the prevailing conditions.