Cessna 210C accident near Millington, Tennessee, August 10, 1989
On August 10, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 210C, registered N3680Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millington, Tennessee (Charles W. Baker airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL FLOW MANIFOLD. THE CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Millington, Tennessee · Charles W. Baker · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210C · all 210Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3680Y · no longer on the register · serial 21058180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE ANNUAL INSP WAS JUST PERFORMED & THE FLT WAS TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT 100 FT AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER & QUIT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD THE ACFT NOSED OVER. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER CONTAINED GROSS QUANTITIES OF CONTAMINANTS. ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC, THE CONTAMINANTS COULD HAVE BLOCKED FUEL TO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS RESULTING IN THE EXCESS FUEL TO BE USED BY THE CYLINDER(S) THAT WERE PROVIDED BY AN UNOBSTRUCTED FLOW OR FUEL. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT DURING AN ANNUAL INSP, THE FLOW DIVIDER IS NOT DISASSEMBLED FOR INSPECTION.
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: 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NQA, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.