Cessna T210N accident near Tribune, Kansas, June 13, 2003
On June 13, 2003 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N210MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tribune, 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 in-flight separation of the turbocharger exhaust band clamp resulting in an in-flight fire and uncommanded landing gear extension. Also causal was the improper maintenance by unknown personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2003 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tribune, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N210MP · registry record · serial 21063193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged following an in-flight fire around the cowling covering the engine turbocharger area, and there was also fire damage to the firewall. The pilot performed an emergency landing at an alternate destination airport due to an uncommanded in-flight landing gear extension. There was no in-flight evidence of smoke or fire until a postflight inspection of the airplane which revealed that the cowling around the engine's turbocharger was consumed by fire. Examination of the airplane revealed that the turbocharger exhaust tailpipe clamp had a multi-segment steel self locking nut. A single piece steel self locking nut is required for the application.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 854 hours in all; 72 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2002; 3,610.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V1 Pagosa Springs CO at 1:00 pm
- Destination: K75 Osborne KS
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from ITR, 54 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N210MP 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.