Cessna 210H accident near Carrollton, Georgia, November 25, 1991
On November 25, 1991 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 210H, registered N65SD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrollton, Georgia. It was a business 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 CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WITH ICE AND WATER, WHICH WAS UNDETECTABLE BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1991 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210H · all 210Hs on the register
- Registration
- N65SD · registry record · serial 21058971
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD PREFLIGHTED HIS AIRCRAFT AND FOUND WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. A MECHANIC WHO WAS ASSISTING THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE WATER FROZE INSTANTLY WHEN IT CONTACTED THE OUTSIDE AIR. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO DRAW WATER UNTIL NO EVIDENCE OF WATER REMAINED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED ABOUT 5 OUNCES OF WATER IN THE LEFT HEADER TANK, AS WELL AS WATER IN THE FUEL MANIFOLD (SPIDER). THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN ON THE AIRFRAME AFTER THE ACCIDENT. NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1991; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from ATL, 40 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.