- Date
- December 1, 1991, 12:56 local (19:56 UTC)
- Place
- La Veta, CO
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6179NCessna T210M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911201062879I
- Case key
- 18166
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the no 1 connecting rod due to lack of lubrication from blocked oil ports.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot heard a 'clunk' and lost manifold pressure. He reversed course back to the airport but was forced to land on a snow covered highway. He elected to land wheels up. Engine disassembly disclosed the no. 1 connecting road had broken at the crankshaft end. Additionally, the oil journal was completely blocked with babbet. There was evidence of lack of lubrication and high heat distress throughout the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6179N
- Reported as
- Cessna T210M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21062950
- Airframe hours
- 1,294
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas R. White
- Registered owner
- Thomas R. White
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 1991 · 28 hours before
- Departed
- 07V · La Veta, CO
- Destination
- MTJ · Montrose, CO
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 350 in this make and model · 556 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.