Cessna T210N accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, May 30, 1987
On May 30, 1987 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N4965Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Murfreesboro airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 30, 1987 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee · Murfreesboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4965Y · no longer on the register · serial 210 64059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING THRU 6,000 FT, THE PLT HEARD & FELT A 'THUD' & THEN REALIZED THE ENG HAD FAILED. DRG A SUBSEQUENT EMERG LANDING IN A MUDDY CORN FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR MIRED IN SOFT TERRAIN & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FRACTURED THRU THE SHORT CHEEK, JUST AFT OF THE #2 BEARING JOURNAL. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE REVEALED THE FAILURE WAS INITIATED BY HI CYCLE FATIGUE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 948 hours in all; 469 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 781 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: MBT Murfreesboro TN at 5:35 pm
- Destination: TYS Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from BNA
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.