Cessna 210 accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, June 10, 2009
On June 10, 2009, a Cessna 210, registered N8280M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Fredericksburg, Texas (Gillespie County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2009
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Texas · Gillespie County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 K · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N8280M · no longer on the register · serial 21059280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were flying downwind for landing at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level with the landing gear down and the flaps set at 10 degrees when the engine suddenly quit. The instructor pilot completed emergency engine out procedures, established a glide speed of 85 knots and made a turn directly toward the airport. He said the “glide” speed seemed to be more a “fall” speed of 85 knots and any attempts by him to slow the airplane resulted in imminent stall signs. The airplane struck rising terrain and a fence on a golf course on the edge of the airport property and the engine was separated from the airplane. There was substantial damage to the airplane, but only minor injuries to the flight instructor and the student pilot, who were the only occupants. An inspection of the airplane at the accident scene showed no obvious signs of any pre-impact anomalies and a visual check of the airplane's fuel system showed adequate fuel with no obvious signs of contamination. A post crash quality check of the fixed base operator’s fuel supply facilities showed fuel that was clean and uncontaminated.
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 engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- 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: 10,501 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,818 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 27 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,860 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1F7 Spring Branch TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: T82 Fredericksburg TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.