Cessna 210B accident near Uriah, Alabama, November 17, 1988
On November 17, 1988 at about 5:54 pm local time, a Cessna 210B, registered N5021P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Uriah, 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
- November 17, 1988 · about 5:54 pm local time
- Place
- Uriah, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210B · all 210Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5021P · no longer on the register · serial 21058045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 6500 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PROP STOPPED WINDMILLING. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. DRG THE LANDING, THE RIGHT WING HIT OVERHANGING TREE LIMBS WHICH YAWED THE ACFT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD & DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE ENG WAS REMOVED & DISASSEMBLED WHICH REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE AT THE #2 CRANK CHEEK. FATIGUE HAD ORIGINATED AT THE FRONT CORNER OF THE #2 CHEEK LIGHTENING HOLE. THE ENG WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1961. IN 1962, THE MANUFACTURER REDESIGNED THE CRANKSHAFT FOR THIS MODEL OF ENG BY ELIMINATING THE LIGHTENING HOLE. IN MAY 1962, CONTINENTAL SVC BULLETIN (SB) M62-8 ADZD OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT. THE ENG OF N5021P WAS OVERHAULED ON 7/21/75 AT 1486 HRS. AT THAT TIME, THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REMOVED, MAGNAFLUXED & REINSTALLED. TIME SINCE OVERHAUL WAS 695 HRS. TOTAL ENG TIME WAS 2181 HRS.
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
- Flight time: 162 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,256 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1988; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2A9 Peachtree City GA at 4:45 pm
- Destination: MSY New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 345° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.