Cessna T210N accident near Clemson, South Carolina, May 31, 1982
On May 31, 1982 at about 1:50 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5158A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clemson, South Carolina (Clemson-Oconee airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1982 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Clemson, South Carolina · Clemson-Oconee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5158A · no longer on the register · serial 21063291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING ROLL HE FELT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRAKES DIMINISH APPRECIABLY. AS THE END OF THE RUNWAY BECAME VISIBLE HE ATTEMPTED TO GROUND LOOP THE AIRCRAFT BUT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH ANY SIGNIFICANT RATE OF TURN. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 25 DEGREES FROM THE RUNWAY HEADING, ENTERED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE CYLINDER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF LEAKING AROUND THE SHAFT AND WAS SERVICED WITH ABOUT FOUR OUNCES OF FLUID BEFORE FULL BRAKING ACTION WAS RESTORED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN TO 1/2 THEIR ORIGINAL THICKNESS ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BEEN REPLACED 34.5 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 473 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 138 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Auburn AL at 8:20 pm
- Destination: Pickens SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.