- Date
- June 9, 2009, 19:50 local (Jun 10, 2009, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Fredericksburg, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8280MCessna 210
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA San Antonio FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090609010429A
- Case key
- 74000
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The flight instructor and student pilot were flying downwind for landing at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level with the landing gear down and the flaps set at 10 degrees when the engine suddenly quit. The instructor pilot completed emergency engine out procedures, established a glide speed of 85 knots and made a turn directly toward the airport. He said the “glide” speed seemed to be more a “fall” speed of 85 knots and any attempts by him to slow the airplane resulted in imminent stall signs. The airplane struck rising terrain and a fence on a golf course on the edge of the airport property and the engine was separated from the airplane. There was substantial damage to the airplane, but only minor injuries to the flight instructor and the student pilot, who were the only occupants. An inspection of the airplane at the accident scene showed no obvious signs of any pre-impact anomalies and a visual check of the airplane's fuel system showed adequate fuel with no obvious signs of contamination. A post crash quality check of the fixed base operator’s fuel supply facilities showed fuel that was clean and uncontaminated.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor and student pilot were flying downwind for landing at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level with the landing gear down and the flaps set at 10 degrees when the engine suddenly quit. The instructor pilot completed emergency engine out procedures, established a glide speed of 85 knots and made a turn directly toward the airport. He said the “glide” speed seemed to be more a “fall” speed of 85 knots and any attempts by him to slow the airplane resulted in imminent stall signs. The airplane struck rising terrain and a fence on a golf course on the edge of the airport property and the engine was separated from the airplane. There was substantial damage to the airplane, but only minor injuries to the flight instructor and the student pilot, who were the only occupants. An inspection of the airplane at the accident scene showed no obvious signs of any pre-impact anomalies and a visual check of the airplane's fuel system showed adequate fuel with no obvious signs of contamination. A post crash quality check of the fixed base operator’s fuel supply facilities showed fuel that was clean and uncontaminated.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8280M
- Reported as
- Cessna 210 (K)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21059280
- Airframe hours
- 8,860
- Engine
- Continental Motors IO-520, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 10, 2009
- Departed
- 1F7 · Spring Branch, TX
- Destination
- T82 · Fredericksburg, TX
- Airport
- T82 · Gillespie County Airport, runway 14, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 24, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 10,501 total · 20 in this make and model · 5,818 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 127 total · 27 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- KERV, 18 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.