Cessna P210N accident near Bolivar, Tennessee, February 13, 2003
On February 13, 2003 at about 3:20 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N6ZZ, was destroyed in an accident near Bolivar, Tennessee (William L. Whitehurst Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2003 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Bolivar, Tennessee · William L. Whitehurst Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6ZZ · no longer on the register · serial P21000558
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot during cruise flight at 6000 feet, the engine power began to decrease. The engine continued to run but was not producing full power. Repeated efforts by the pilot to restore full engine power failed. The pilot radioed Memphis Approach control, and reported an in-flight emergency due to an engine failure. The controller issued the pilot radar vectors to William L. Whitehurst Field, Bolivar, Tennessee. The airplane collided with trees five miles south of the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was heavily fire damaged. There were no abnormalities discovered during the examination of the engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,049 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 981 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 26, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 11:30 pm
- Destination: MEM Memphis TN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from MKL, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.