Cessna 210H accident near Marienthal, Kansas, April 7, 2012
On April 7, 2012 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210H, registered N5981F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Marienthal, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2012 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marienthal, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210H · all 210Hs on the register
- Registration
- N5981F · no longer on the register · serial 21058981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that there was a crosswind that was aggravated by a line of trees along the side of the runway, making the air turbulent. On the landing approach, the airplane encountered turbulence or a downdraft, which resulted in the airplane landing hard on its nose gear. The nose gear separated and the airplane nosed over on its back, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 456 hours in all; 62 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Marienthal KS
- Destination: Marienthal KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from GCK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.