Cessna T210M accident near Willacooche, Georgia, September 8, 1994
On September 8, 1994 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761GQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willacooche, Georgia. It was a business 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 EXCESSIVE FUEL LEANING DURING IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN PRE-IGNITION/DETONATION AND A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND VEHICLES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1994 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Willacooche, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761GQ · no longer on the register · serial 21062249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DECREASED AND THE OIL TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE ENGINE LOST POWER RAPIDLY, AND QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ELECTRICAL POWER LINES AND VEHICLES. THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED TO AVOID CATCHING ON POWER LINES. AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, A VEHICLE BACKED INTO THE ROAD AND WAS STRUCK BY THE RIGHT WING TIP. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 PISTON EXHIBITED SIGNS OF PRE-IGNITION /DETONATION, I.E. A HOLE WAS BURNED IN THE PISTON. TESTING OF THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM DEMONSTRATED THAT IT WAS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING REQUIRED FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FULL OF 100LL FUEL WHEN THE FLIGHT DEPARTED. EXCESSIVE FUEL LEANING, DURING IMPROPER USAGE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL, WILL RESULT IN ENGINE DETONATION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1993; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-MCR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSI Brunswick GA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: TMA Tifton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from AMG, 35 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.