Cessna T210L accident near Pleasant Grove, Alabama, August 25, 1983
On August 25, 1983 at about 8:09 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N20MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pleasant Grove, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 25, 1983 · about 8:09 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasant Grove, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N20MS · registry record · serial 21061513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG LOST POWER AS HE WAS APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION WITH THE LEFT MAIN FUEL GAGE INDICATING 1/2 FULL. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE LEFT WING TIP HIT A UTILITY POLE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE ACFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE. ALL USABLE FUEL HAD BEEN CONSUMED. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTENDED RANGE FUEL SYSTEM PER STC SA2162WE & THE PLT HAD EXPECTED A FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 75 PPH. HOWEVER, ACTUAL FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS 88.5 PPH. THE PLT ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD FLOWN 970 MI WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE EXPECTED A RANGE OF 1100 MI.
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
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 935 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1983; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X31 Crystal River FL at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 2A3A Bessemer AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from BHM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.