2016 Cessna 210F Crash Near Wantage, New Jersey (N6450N)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On May 16, 2016, at approximately 2242 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210F, registration N6450N, sustained substantial damage after impacting wooded terrain near Wantage, New Jersey. The private pilot was fatally injured in the accident. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual for a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions were present, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Griffiss International Airport (RME) in Rome, New York, at 2143. The intended destination of the flight was unknown. There were no known witnesses to the accident, and the aircraft was not reported overdue. Air traffic control began receiving reports of an emergency locator transmitter near the accident site at 2252. The wreckage was subsequently located by the Civil Airport Patrol on May 19, 2016. The pilot had no contact with flight service or air traffic control prior to or during the flight. However, radar data review revealed targets with a transponder code of 1200 originating at RME and terminating near the accident site. The last recorded target was at 2241:56, indicating an altitude of 900 feet mean sea level (msl). A fixed-based operator manager at RME stated that the pilot purchased 25 gallons of fuel on the day of the accident and indicated he would be away for one week, without specifying a destination. The pilot's father reported being unaware of the flight or its intended destination.