# NTSB CEN09CA347: Cessna 210, N8280M, Fredericksburg, TX, June 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2009, 19:50 local (Jun 10, 2009, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Fredericksburg, TX - Coordinates: 30.242776, -98.908607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2428&lon=-98.9086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74000 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74000/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74000 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA347 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause) ## 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 best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8280M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8280M-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 21059280, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 210K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210k) (registry code 2073446) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21059280 - Airframe hours: 8860 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: minor; 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 - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090609010429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090609010429A), Jun 9, 2009: Cessna 210K, Fredericksburg, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost engine power on the downwind leg for runway 14. The instructor pilot conducted immediate action memory checklsit items and then turned… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74000. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.