2010 Cessna 210A Crash Near Aiken, South Carolina (N6655X)

Accident Overview and Flight History On October 28, 2010, at approximately 0934 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210A, registration N6655X, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Aiken, South Carolina. The flight departed Beaufort County Airport (ARW) in Beaufort, South Carolina, with Aiken Municipal Airport (AIK) as its destination. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed during the flight. The pilot, a certificated private pilot, was fatally injured in the accident. According to air traffic control (ATC) voice and radar data, the aircraft was approaching AIK at 4,500 feet above mean sea level (msl) when the pilot requested to return to ARW due to weather. The aircraft was subsequently observed to descend and complete two full 360-degree turns before descending below the radar coverage area. A witness reported hearing the aircraft pass at low altitude over his house on a heading of 102 degrees, followed by a thud and an explosion. The wreckage was later discovered by an employee of the local electric company who observed a flash in the vicinity of a smoke plume.