Cessna T210N accident near Johnstown, Colorado, November 10, 2003
On November 10, 2003 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6961N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnstown, Colorado (Starck Farms Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident were the gusting crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2003 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Johnstown, Colorado · Starck Farms Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6961N · no longer on the register · serial 21063171
- 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 he was landing to the north. On rollout, approximately halfway down the runway, he encountered a "severe gust of wind from the west." The pilot said the airplane "weathervaned" and went off of the runway, collapsing the nose gear and substantially damaging the nose gear, nose gear bulkheads, cowling, and propeller. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. The wind conditions at the Greeley-Weld Country Airport, Greeley, Colorado, 17 miles northeast of the accident site were 270 degrees at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots.
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: 2,406 hours in all; 1,149 in this make and model; 2,406 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,701.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 18, 2003; 2.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2V6 Yuma CO at 6:20 pm
- Destination: Johnstown CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GXY, 17 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.
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.