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Casualties unknown

Pilot Reports High Altitude and Stall During Landing Attempt (N8264M)

Durango, CO, US

On June 29, 2003, a Cessna 210K (registration N8264M) was involved in an aviation accident near Durango, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the high altitude on base turn and final approach, the low airspeed, the pilot's improper use of flaps, the inadvertent… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a go-around after a high approach with full flaps, resulting in a stall warning and a bounced landing before the airplane veered toward a hangar and fell to the ground. Post-accident examination found no anomalies.

Pilot's Account

The pilot stated that he was making a right-hand traffic pattern for landing on runway 01. He reported that his altitude was high during the approach. He said, "I put on full flaps and [the] descent increased to the point [that] I decided to go around. The plane continued to descend and the stall horn started to sound." According to the pilot, he then raised the flaps to 10 degrees and bounced off the runway. He noted that a crosswind turned the airplane toward a hangar. He said he turned the airplane back toward the runway, but "it wouldn't fly and fell to the ground."

Examination Findings

An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

Weather Conditions

At the time of the accident, the winds recorded at the Durango-La Plata County Airport, located 120 degrees at 7 miles from the accident site, were 270 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The density altitude was determined as 9,942 feet msl.

Aerodynamic stall

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 29 Jun 2003 Cessna 210K accident near Durango, CO?

A pilot reported a go-around after a high approach with full flaps, resulting in a stall warning and a bounced landing before the airplane veered toward a hangar and fell to the ground. Post-accident examination found no anomalies.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 29 Jun 2003 involved a Cessna 210K, registration N8264M, at Durango, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the high altitude on base turn and final approach, the low airspeed, the pilot's improper use of flaps, the inadvertent stall, the pilot's failure to recover from the bounced…

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030707X01019. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.