Cessna 210 accident near Dawson Springs, Kentucky, September 2, 2026
On September 2, 2026 at about 3:25 am local time, a 1970 Cessna 210, registered N9420M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dawson Springs, Kentucky (Tradewater airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2026 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Dawson Springs, Kentucky · Tradewater · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 K, built 1970 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9420M · registry record · serial 21059320
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 1, 2026, at 2225 central daylight time, a Cessna 210K, N9420M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that about 10 minutes after departing from Madisonville Regional Airport (2I0), Madisonville, Kentucky, while climbing through about 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl) he heard a bang. Subsequently the engine began to shake and vibrate severely. The pilot continued that after the bang the engine “lost useful power but initially continued running.” He looked at his oil pressure and noted that it had dropped to zero, and multiple exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and cylinder head temperature (CHT) readings were dropping. The pilot attempted to glide to and land at Tradewater Airport (8M7), Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Because the airport was not equipped with airport lighting, and the pilot was unable to locate the airport in the dark. About 2,800 ft msl the pilot lowered the landing gear and selected a road to conduct the forced landing. During the landing the airplane impacted a power pole before landing on the roadway. During the landing roll the airplane contacted a guardrail and another utility pole which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankcase was breached, with a broken connecting rod visible near the No. 6 cylinder. The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,296.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2025; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Lba Holdings LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 2I0 Madisonville KY at 3:13 am
- Destination: CEY Murray KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from HVC, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHVC 020335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A3005 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA325.