Cessna T210 N5279A

Summary

On 5 January 2006 at about 01:30 local time, a Cessna T210 registered N5279A was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 January 2006 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Midland, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.8333, -101.9333

Aircraft

Cessna T210

Registration

N5279A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Antonio → Midland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DFW06CA050

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to a connecting rod failure. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the 1,150-hour commercial pilot noticed a rise in engine oil temperature. The pilot opened the cowl flaps and increased the mixture control, which reduced the EGT and the CHT. Approximately 5 minutes later, the engine started "running rough and sparks appeared from the cowling with loud bangs." The pilot shut-down the engine and extended the landing gear for a forced landing on a road. The airplane was unable to make the road and during the night forced landing in a mesquite covered field, the airplane sustained structural damage. An examination of the engine revealed that several of the engine's connecting rods had failed and the number one piston was found to be eroded.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.