No fatalities

10 Jun 2009: CESSNA 210 K — Fredericksburg, TX

Fredericksburg, TX, United States

On 10 Jun 2009, a CESSNA 210 K was involved in an aviation accident near Fredericksburg, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A flight instructor and student pilot experienced an engine failure during a downwind landing approach. The aircraft struck terrain and a fence on a golf course, sustaining substantial damage but only minor injuries.

Incident Details

On the day of the accident, a flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a training flight. While flying downwind for landing at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, with the landing gear extended and flaps set at 10 degrees, the engine suddenly ceased operation. The instructor immediately executed emergency procedures for an engine failure, establishing a glide speed of 85 knots and turning the aircraft directly toward the airport.

The instructor later reported that the glide speed felt more like a "fall" speed, and any attempt to reduce airspeed resulted in imminent stall indications. The aircraft subsequently struck rising terrain and a fence located on a golf course at the edge of the airport property. The impact caused the engine to separate from the airframe. Despite substantial damage to the aircraft, both occupants—the instructor and the student—sustained only minor injuries.

Aftermath and Inspection

An inspection of the wreckage at the accident scene revealed no obvious signs of any pre-impact anomalies. A visual check of the airplane's fuel system indicated adequate fuel with no visible contamination. Additionally, a post-crash quality check of the fixed-base operator's fuel supply facilities showed that the fuel was clean and uncontaminated.

The aircraft was substantially damaged, with the engine detached from the airframe. No other information is available regarding the specific aircraft type or registration.

Contributing factors

Aircraft power plant