Cessna 210M accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, September 2, 1992
On September 2, 1992 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210M, registered N6979B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithfield, North Carolina (Johnston County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN ELECTRICAL DEFICIENCIES WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR HYDRAULIC POWERPACK. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR. FACTORS WERE AN INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR AND A WEAK BATTERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1992 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Smithfield, North Carolina · Johnston County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210M · all 210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6979B · registry record · serial 21062863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S BATTERY WAS WEAK. HE REQUESTED AN ELECTRICAL BOOST FROM A LOCAL MECHANIC TO START THE ENGINE. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO RUN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUNUP PROCEDURE WAS NORMAL. HE ALSO TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, BUT LEFT ONE COMMUNICATION RADIO ON. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PILOT DISCOVERED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT AND, WHILE EN ROUTE, HE ATTEMPTED MANUALLY TO LOWER THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, BUT FELT PRESSURE ON THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION HANDLE AND DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE EXTENSION OPERATION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AS THE RIGHT WING WAS LIFTED UP, DURING THE WRECKAGE RECOVERY PHASE, THE PILOT LOWERED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION HANDLE. EXAMINATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISCLOSED THAT A DIODE IN THE ALTERNATOR HAD SLIPPED FROM ITS NORMALLY INSTALLED POSITION.
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: 1,795 hours in all; 1,136 in this make and model; 1,795 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,860 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 1991; 138 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,799 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 L2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RW5 Fuquay-Varina NC at 4:10 pm
- Destination: W27
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from RDU, 30 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.