Cessna 210D accident near Babylon, New York, June 25, 2010
On June 25, 2010 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210D, registered N3973Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Babylon, New York. 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 due to the failure of the oil filter gasket and the subsequent engine oil depletion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2010 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Babylon, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210D · all 210Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3973Y · no longer on the register · serial 21058473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the engine began running rough approximately 1 hour into the flight. Shortly thereafter, all engine power was lost, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane collided with a walkway railing, substantially damaging the left wing. Examination of the engine revealed that it lost power due to oil starvation. Signatures within the internal components were consistent with engine operation after a depleted oil supply. Further examination revealed that the gasket between the oil filter adapter and the pump was torn, likely allowing oil to leak from this junction. Oil leak signatures including oil staining on the bottom of the engine were identified during the postaccident investigation. No determination could be made regarding how long the gasket had been in place.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Quantity › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › (general) › (general) › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Related maintenance info
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,619 hours in all; 717 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,027 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2009; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ESN Easton MD at 7:45 pm
- Destination: FOK Westhampton NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FRG, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.