Cessna T210M incident near La Veta, Colorado, December 1, 1991
On December 1, 1991 at about 7:56 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N6179N, suffered minor damage in an incident near La Veta, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE NO 1 CONNECTING ROD DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION FROM BLOCKED OIL PORTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 1991 · about 7:56 pm local time
- Place
- La Veta, Colorado · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6179N · no longer on the register · serial 21062950
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HEARD A 'CLUNK' AND LOST MANIFOLD PRESSURE. HE REVERSED COURSE BACK TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON A SNOW COVERED HIGHWAY. HE ELECTED TO LAND WHEELS UP. ENGINE DISASSEMBLY DISCLOSED THE NO. 1 CONNECTING ROAD HAD BROKEN AT THE CRANKSHAFT END. ADDITIONALLY, THE OIL JOURNAL WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED WITH BABBET. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF LACK OF LUBRICATION AND HIGH HEAT DISTRESS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE.
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: 700 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 556 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1991; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07V La Veta CO at 7:40 pm
- Destination: MTJ Montrose CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.