Cessna T210N accident near Montrose, Colorado, November 16, 2001
On November 16, 2001 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N210GB, was destroyed in an accident near Montrose, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2001 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Montrose, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N210GB · registry record · serial T210-63564
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he departed on runway 31 at approximately 1415, and the takeoff seemed normal. He said that at approximately 1,500 feet above ground level he reduced the throttle for cruise, reduced the propeller control, and adjusted his fuel mixture. He noticed the manifold pressure rapidly dropped to approximately 15 inches of mercury pressure. He switched fuel tanks and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, believing that there was a vapor lock in the fuel line. The engine lost power, and the propeller continued to windmill. He pressed the boost pump switch and pulled the throttle out about an inch. The engine still did not restart, so he performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing attempt, the airplane was substantially damaged, and subsequently consumed by fire. Postaccident investigation of the airframe and the engine revealed no anomalies which might have affected the airplane's performance before the accident. Eight spark plugs were found black and sooty, and four were found wet. A witness, who observed the takeoff, said that the airplane trailed dark smoke during its takeoff roll and climb out.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 457 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 26, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,628 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2001; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MTJ Montrose CO at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 01CL Placerville CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MTF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N210GB 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.