On April 14, 2006, a Cessna 210F (registration N1966S) was involved in an aviation accident near Lubbock, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An in-flight electrical fire for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot with 200 hours landed in a plowed cotton field after an in-flight electrical fire. The aircraft nosed over and inverted; the pilot exited unaided before flames engulfed it.
Incident Overview
A private pilot with approximately 200 hours of flight experience experienced an in-flight electrical fire and elected to perform an emergency landing in a plowed cotton field. The landing was executed without further complications, but shortly after touchdown, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
Pilot Egress and Fire
The pilot was able to exit the aircraft unassisted following the inverted landing. Within a few minutes of coming to rest, the aircraft became fully engulfed in flames.
Investigation Findings
Investigators examined the wreckage but were unable to determine the origin of the in-flight fire due to the extensive fire damage sustained. No additional factors or causes were identified in the report.