On April 3, 1997, a Cessna 210M (registration N761VX) was involved in an aviation accident near Troy, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing, which resulted in a nose-over accident. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power at cruise altitude, the cause of which could not be determined. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported a partial loss of engine power at 4,500 feet, resulting in a forced landing at an ultralight airfield where the aircraft nosed over upon touchdown.
What happened
The pilot reported experiencing a partial loss of engine power while cruising at an altitude of 4,500 feet. In response to the mechanical issue, he executed a forced landing at a nearby ultralight airfield. The airplane touched down beyond the intended point and continued off the end of the runway, resulting in a nose-over incident.
The investigation
Following the accident, the engine was removed from the aircraft and transported directly to the engine manufacturer for further examination. The manufacturer placed the engine in a test cell, started it, and verified that it developed power during testing.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing, which resulted in a nose-over accident. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power at cruise altitude, the cause of which could not be determined.