Cessna T210N accident near Plains, Texas, July 25, 1983
On July 25, 1983 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N1753U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plains, Texas (Yoakum County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1983 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Plains, Texas · Yoakum County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1753U · no longer on the register · serial 21064738
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT DETERMINED THAT RWY 26 WAS THE ONLY OPEN RWY. HE MADE A SHORT FIELD APCH. HOWEVER BEFORE LANDING, HE DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A MOUND OF DIRT ACROSS THE RWY WHERE IT INTERSECTED WITH RWY 17/35, WHICH WAS CLOSED. WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL, ABOUT 400 FT FROM THE MOUND, HE RECOGNIZED THE OBSTRUCTION, BUT BY THEN, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR GO AROUND WITHOUT HITTING THE MOUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE MOUND WHILE TRAVELING ATABOUT 20 KTS & NOSED OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,115 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 235 in the last 90 days; 1,948 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 152 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1983; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDD Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,020 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.