Cessna T210M accident near Abbeville, Louisiana, March 11, 2008
On March 11, 2008 at about 1:23 am local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N732RR, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Abbeville, Louisiana (Lafayette Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were the prevailing clouds, rain, and turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2008 · about 1:23 am local time
- Place
- Abbeville, Louisiana · Lafayette Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N732RR · no longer on the register · serial 21061718
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was being vectored for an instrument approach to his destination airport when the pilot continued a right turn past his assigned heading and began to descend. The pilot did not respond to further instructions, lost control of the airplane and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain. No distress call was transmitted. The airplane, engine and systems were examined. No anomalies were discovered. The vacuum pump coupling drive and the attitude direction indicator gyro both displayed scoring consistent with proper operation at the time of impact. A passenger who had gotten off the airplane before the accident flight stated that the only malfunction he witnessed that day was a problem with the airplane's right brake. The passenger also recalled that the last time he saw the pilot, the pilot appeared to be well and alert. An assessment of the weather and airplane flight path showed that the airplane flew through instrument meteorological conditions to include dark skies, light to moderate rain, and light to moderate turbulence.
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
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,800 hours in all; 130 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,286.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007; 180.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Destination: LFT Lafayette LA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 2.5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; a few clouds at 600 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 1:31 am from LFT, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.