Cessna T210L accident near Borger, Texas, October 25, 2013
On October 25, 2013 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna T210L, registered N398MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Borger, Texas. 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 failure of the No. 4 connecting rod due to inadequate oil lubrication.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2013 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Borger, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L, built 1976 · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N398MA · registry record · serial 21061441
- 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, while in cruise flight, the engine began to surge with intermittent power and that the airplane's speed and the engine's manifold pressure and oil pressure decreased. While the pilot was diverting the airplane to the nearest airport, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot established a glide toward the airport, but, when he realized that the airplane would not be able to reach the airport, he chose to perform a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a transmission wire and subsequently collided with terrain. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 connecting rod had separated from its rod journal and that the rod cap bearing had partially melted into the rod journal. The No. 4 connecting rod cap and cap bolts exhibited signatures consistent with a lack of oil lubrication. No other anomalies were discovered with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The examinations did not reveal any abnormalities that would have prevented adequate oil lubrication of the No. 4 connecting cap and cap bolts. The reason for the lack of lubrication could not be determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,227 hours in all; 513 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 20, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 2013; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-H (piston); 1,097 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJA Weatherford OK at 3:40 pm
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KBGD
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.
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.