GRAYSLAKE, IL, USA
N44C
Cessna P210
The pilot reported that the fuel level in his main tanks was getting low so he attempted to transfer fuel from the tip tanks only to discover that the transfer pumps were inoperative. He decided to land at the closest airport. The first landing approach was high so he performed a go-around. The second approach was also high, but he elected to land anyway instead of risk running out of fuel during another go-around. The airplane touched down long and fast. It traveled off the runway where it contacted a 12 foot deep ditch which contained 3 feet of water.
On August 19, 1997, at 0900 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna P210, N44C, operated by a commercial pilot collided with a ditch following a loss of directional control while landing at the Campbell Airport, Grayslake, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Wheeling, Illinois. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to check the airplane's pressurization system which had just been repaired. He reported that he departed with 1 hour of fuel in the main tanks and 45 minutes of fuel in the tip tanks. During the flight he noticed that the fuel level in the main tanks was getting low so he attempted to transfer fuel from the tip tanks into the mains. It was at this time that he discovered the transfer pumps were inoperative. He estimated he approximately 15 minutes of fuel left in the main fuel tanks so he elected to land at the nearest airport. The pilot reported that he was high on the first landing approach so he performed a go-around. He stated that he was high again on the second approach, but decided to land instead of risk running out of fuel during another go-around. The airplane touched down long and fast. The airplane traveled off the side of the runway where it continued to travel approximately 500 feet through the wet grass prior to contacting a creek bed. The creek contained approximately 3 feet of water at the bottom of a 12 foot ditch. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the flaps were in the retracted position.
excessive airspeed and the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing. Factors associated with the accident were inadequate aircraft preflight and the ditch.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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