What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2003-08-26 involved a C 210 M, registration OK-CIC, at U obce Smolenice, CZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was primarily caused by the pilot's inability to maintain proper flight techniques during an emergency landing following an engine power loss, which was triggered by improper throttle management.

Cessna 210 Crash in Smolnice Caused by Engine Power Loss

A Cessna 210M aircraft sustained a nose gear failure and overturned during an emergency field landing following an engine malfunction near Smolnice.

What happened

On August 26, 2003, at approximately 09:50 UTC, a Cessna 210M, registration OK-CIC, was conducting a private flight from Slaný toward Žatec and Ústí nad Labem. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and two passengers, was flying at 1,000 feet AGL in conditions characterized by strong thermal turbulence. During the flight, the engine was operating with a slightly lean mixture.

While the pilot was adjusting the engine cooling flaps, they inadvertently moved the throttle lever to increase power. This action caused the engine to run with an extremely lean mixture, resulting in irregular engine running and power fluctuations. Unable to stabilize the engine performance through subsequent mixture enrichment, the pilot decided to perform a safety landing in a field near the village of Smolnice.

During the approach, the pilot deployed the landing gear and flaps. After extending the full flaps, the aircraft's airspeed dropped below 80 knots. The aircraft subsequently made a hard three-point landing. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, leading the aircraft to nose over and come to rest on its back. There were no injuries to the crew or passengers, but the aircraft was destroyed.

The investigation

The ÚZPLN investigation focused on the sequence of engine malfunctions and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the emergency landing. The investigation established that the pilot held valid qualifications and medical certification. The engine, a Teledyne Continental, had been maintained according to regulations, and the aircraft was in good condition prior to the flight. The investigation also examined the meteorological conditions, which were found to be suitable for flight, and determined that the airfield was not a contributing factor.

Findings

The irregular engine operation and subsequent power loss were caused by the inadvertent movement of the throttle lever while the engine was operating with a lean mixture.
The aircraft's airspeed dropped below the critical threshold of 80 knots due to the deployment of full flaps during the landing maneuver.
The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to manage flight techniques during an emergency landing under limited engine power.
A contributing factor was the incorrect engine control manipulation during the flight.