Cessna 210 accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico, March 23, 2009
On March 23, 2009 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N59287, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Angel Fire, New Mexico (Angel Fire 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off on an icy runway with high crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2009 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Angel Fire, New Mexico · Angel Fire Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 L · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N59287 · no longer on the register · serial 21060191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he noted that the tarmac and runway were covered in a half inch of rough ice during preflight. He back-taxied on the runway and performed a normal run-up without any problems. During the departure roll, the aircraft veered toward the left, departed the runway, and came to rest in a creek. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left aileron was damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. Wind conditions reported five minutes before the accident were 260 degrees at 16 mph gusting to 21 mph.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,360 hours in all; 852 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,217 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 2008
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R(9) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAXX Angel Fire NM
- Destination: 1n1 Edgewood, Nm NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 8,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 pm from KAXX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N59287 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.