Cessna 210 accident near Brent, Alabama, November 21, 2021
On November 21, 2021 at about 2:26 pm local time, a 1971 Cessna 210, registered N5779J, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Brent, Alabama. 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 inadequate maintenance of the oil filter adapter, which resulted in in an engine oil leak and subsequent loss engine oil pressure, and the subsequent off-airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2021 · about 2:26 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Brent, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 K, built 1971 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N5779J · registry record · serial 21059479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, the pilot noticed a drop in engine oil pressure and turned toward the closest airport. The pilot subsequently elected to perform a precautionary off-airport landing during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that it was equipped with a screw-on oil filter adapter. Oil seepage was found on the area surrounding the oil filter adapter attachment point, in the engine compartment, and on the underside of the fuselage. Examination of the adapter found its tightening torque to be 38.5 ft-lbs, which was below the prescribed installation torque of 65 ft-lbs. Additionally, the adapter was found installed with the originally specified fiber gasket, which the manufacturer had subsequently advised to remove and replace with a copper gasket in a mandatory service bulletin. The fiber gasket was found torn and indented. It is likely that the loose adapter and the torn fiber gasket allowed the engine oil to be pumped overboard. This ultimately resulted in the loss of oil pressure and the pilot’s decision to perform the precautionary off-airport landing. It is likely that had the mandatory service bulletin been complied with, the loss of oil pressure would not have occurred.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Not inspected other cases naming the engine
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Not serviced/maintained other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,560 hours in all; 1,092 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2,474 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 7, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,631 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2021; 9.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 L14B (piston); 917 hours total
- Operator: Beavers Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TCL Tuscaloosa AL at 2:06 pm
- Destination: 18FD Baker FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from TCL, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTCL 211353Z 00000KT 10SM BKN032 11/07 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP249 T01060067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of Airplane from Right Wing
Photo 2 – View of Airplane from Rear
Photo 3 – View of Airplane from Left Wing
Photo 4 – View of Road Sign Damage
Photo 5 – View of Street Sign Damage and AirplaneThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on September 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Service Bulletin SB-001 Rev B Oil Filter Adapter Gaskets | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for Record A�� Wreckage Examination | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Engine Data Monitor (EDM) - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Attachment 1 to Engine Data Monitor (EDM) - Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5779J on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 210 Centurion 1,525 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 L14B 9,482 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport · departed from
- Skypark Estates Owners Assoc Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alabama 1,211 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- Alabama 4,353 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA22LA071.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.