Cessna 210D accident near Near Commerce, Georgia, March 9, 1982
On March 9, 1982 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Cessna 210D, registered N3909Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Commerce, Georgia. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 9, 1982 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Near Commerce, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210D · all 210Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3909Y · no longer on the register · serial 21058409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER HAD FLOWN A PA-23 FROM CHARLOTTE TO JACKSON COUNTY,FL WITH ANOTHER PLT FOLLOWING HIM IN N3909Y. THE OWNER STATED THE OTHER PLT WAS VERY METICULOUS & ALWAYS DRAINED FUEL PRIOR TO FLT. AFTER THE 1 HR FLT TO JACKSON COUNTY, THEY BOTH LOOKED OVER THE ACFT PRIOR TO RETURNING TO CHARLOTTE, BUT DID NOT DRAIN THE FUEL. ABOUT 3-4 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG LOST POWER. THE OWNER SITTING IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT TOOK CONTROL & SWITCHED FROM THE LEFT TO RIGHT TANK, HOWEVER, THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. 3 OZ OF FLUID DRAINED FROM THE GASCOLATOR WAS IDENTIFIED AS WATER. THE CAP ON THE FLOW DIVIDER WAS REMOVED & ONLY WATER WAS FOUND IN THE UNIT. FUEL FROM THE WING TANKS ON THIS ACFT FLOW THROUGH FUEL RESERVOIR TANKS.THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE IN THE RIGHT TANK FUEL CAP. A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM EACH TANK, THE MOST BEING FOUND IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE ACFT SAT IN RAIN THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND. OWNER'S MANUAL STATES TO DRAIN FROM FULLEST TANK ONLY. THE FUEL CONTROL SCREEN WAS CONTAMINATED & PARTIALLY BLOCKED.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,747 hours in all; 1,036 in this make and model; 212 in the last 90 days; 1,536 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,358 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Near Commerce GA at 10:50 am
- Destination: Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.