# NTSB DFW06LA104: Cessna 210F, N1966S, Lubbock, TX, April 14, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2006, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Lubbock, TX - Coordinates: 33.4397222222222, -101.719166666667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4397&lon=-101.7192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63504 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63504/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA104 ## Probable cause An in-flight electrical fire for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 200-hour private pilot elected to land in a plowed cotton field following an in-flight electrical fire. Shortly after touchdown the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. The airplane was engulfed in flames within a few minutes after it came to rest. Due to the extent of fire damage, investigative team was unable to determine the origin of the in-flight fire. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2006, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 210F single-engine airplane, N1966S, was destroyed by fire following an in-flight fire and subsequent emergency landing near Lubbock, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 429-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from the Town and Country Airpark (F82), near Lubbock, Texas, about 1455, and was en route to the Hawthorne Field Airport (45R), near Silsbee, Texas. According to the 200-hour pilot, approximately five to seven minutes after takeoff, he heard a "poof" sound come from behind the instrument panel, smelled an odor consistent with an electrical fire, and observed dark gray smoke and flames around his feet. The pilot further stated that he observed that none of the circuit breakers had "popped" and the amperage gauge was still indicating a " full charge." The pilot responded by turning off the electrical master switch, to which no change was noted. The pilot subsequently elected to perform an off-airfield emergency landing to plowed cotton field with the landing gear extended. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane nosed-over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. The airplane was engulfed in flames within a few minutes of coming to rest. The pilot attempted to fight the fire with the on-board portable fire extinguisher to no avail. The pilot further reported that three to four weeks prior to the accident flight, a loaner radio had been installed; however, the airplane had been flown approximately fifteen hours since its installation without problems. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Cessna Aircraft Company examined the wreckage of the airplane at the accident site. The cockpit area, extending forward to the firewall, and inboard section of both wings were destroyed by fire. No visible area of torching was present. Several components were further examined at Cessna Aircraft under FAA oversight; however, due to the extent of fire damage the origin of the fire could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1966S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1966S-2007-06-20), registration cancelled 2007-06-20, S/N 210-58737, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210F - Registry model: [Cessna 210F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210f) (registry code 2073418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 58737 - Airframe hours: 2854 - Engines: Continental IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005, 90 hours before - Departed: F82, LUBBOCK, TX - Destination: 45R, KOUNTZE/SILSBEE, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 140 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: LBB, 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 20060414005929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060414005929A), Apr 14, 2006: Cessna 210F, Slaton, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On April 14, 2006, at approximately 1455 CDT, N1966S, a Cessna model 210F, serial number 210-58737, was destroyed by a fire following an inflight fire… ## Other investigations on N1966S (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA75FLD13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75FLD13), Aug 18, 1974: Cessna 210F (N1966S), Orlando, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA68D0338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68D0338), Nov 24, 1967: Cessna 210F (N1966S), Opa Locka, FL, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; 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.