Cessna T210N accident near Edinburg, Texas, April 9, 2009
On April 9, 2009 at about 12:56 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N127TC, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Edinburg, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to select a suitable alternate landing site.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2009 · about 12:56 pm local time
- Place
- Edinburg, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N127TC · no longer on the register · serial 21063381
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the pilot reported engine problems and difficulty maintaining engine rpm and altitude. The pilot initially reported that he would land at a local airport; however, he later stated that he would not make it to that airport. Several areas free of obstacles were located between the point the pilot reported the loss of power and the accident site. The airplane impacted four sets of power lines spread over 1.7 miles. The airplane crashed in an orange grove and was destroyed by postimpact fire. An examination of the airplane and related systems revealed no preexisting anomalies. The engine was examined in the field and an extensive examination and teardown was conducted later in a controlled environment. The examinations did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the engine from producing power as designed.
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 (partial) during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › (general) › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 512 hours in all; 262 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 11, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2009
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Mcallen TX at 12:50 pm
- Destination: SGR Sugarland TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KMFE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.