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Accidents · NTSB FTW01LA050 · Final report

Cessna 210M accident near Burnet, Texas, January 15, 2001

On January 15, 2001 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 210M, registered N1736M, was destroyed in an accident near Burnet, Texas (Burnet Muni Kate Craddock Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

the pilot's failure to maintain proper glide path during a practice instrument approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Contributory factors to the accident were the dark night light condition and the safety pilot's inadequate monitoring of the practice approach.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
January 15, 2001 · about 2:45 am local time
Place
Burnet, Texas · Burnet Muni Kate Craddock Fld · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were seriously injured.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 210M · all 210Ms on the register
Registration
N1736M · no longer on the register · serial 21061955
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

According to the instrument rated commercial pilot, he flew under the hood for a flight in simulated instrument conditions, during dark night light conditions. His passenger, who held a private pilot certificate and was not instrument rated, was the designated safety pilot. When the flight neared the destination airport, the pilot remained flying under the hood and began to execute a GPS instrument approach. He reported that he passed over the initial approach fix, at 4,000 feet and initiated a 500 fpm descent at 140 knots. He added that the flight crossed the final approach fix, at 2,600 feet, and he then extended the flaps and lowered the landing gear. Approximately 15 seconds had elapsed when the airplane contacted trees and impacted the ground. The passenger reported that as the airplane crossed the final approach fix he had the runway in sight. However, he then lost sight of the runway and was about to tell the pilot to "pull up," when the impact occurred. The airplane collided with trees at an elevation of 1,199 feet approximately 1.21 miles past the final approach fix and 2.79 miles prior to reaching the missed approach point. Radar data revealed that the aircraft's altitude was 3,500 feet over the initial approach fix, and 2,200 feet approximately 1.02 nautical miles prior to reaching the final approach fix. According to the GPS instrument approach plate, the minimum altitude at the final approach fix, was 2,600 feet and the minimum descent altitude for a straight in approach was 1,660 feet.

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: 274 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 274 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: September 26, 2000
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: serious injuries

Other crew

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 710 hours in all
  • Last flight review: September 7, 1999
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: serious injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,630.4 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2000; 20 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Continental IO-520-L4B (piston); 0 hours total
  • Fire on the ground

The flight

  • Departed from: BSM Austin TX
  • Destination: BMQ Burnet TX
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 01, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: night, dark
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
  • Observation at 1:53 am from BMQ, 5 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.