Cessna C-210G accident near Freeport, Illinois, October 20, 1991
On October 20, 1991 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Cessna C-210G, registered N5876F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeport, Illinois. 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
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A LINE FITTING BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1991 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-210G
- Registration
- N5876F · no longer on the register · serial 210-58876
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN AIRPLANE OWNER/PILOT NOTICED FUEL FUMES 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. FUMES PERSISTED, AND THE PILOT DIVERTED TOWARD THE NEAREST AIRPORT. FUEL FLOW DECAYED, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. A FUEL HOSE FROM THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO THE INJECTION FUEL CONTROLLER WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED AT ITS PUMP FITTING. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN AFTER THE HOSE WAS CONNECTED. THE AIRPLANE HAD UNDERGONE ENGINE OVERHAUL WITH INSTALLATION OF NEW FUEL HOSES 4 MONTHS (31 FLIGHT HOURS) BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP, INCLUDING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK.
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: 1,245 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1991; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILIZ Apple River IL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 418 Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.