Cessna 210L accident near Marked Tree, Arkansas, May 17, 1991
On May 17, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N29163, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marked Tree, Arkansas (Marked Tree airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR WAS THE WET LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marked Tree, Arkansas · Marked Tree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N29163 · no longer on the register · serial 21059825
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER (MECHANICAL FAILURE) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP ON MUDDY TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A HOLE WAS BURNED IN A PISTON HEAD FROM DETONATION. A CONNECTING ROD SEPARATED AND PENETRATED THE ENGINE CASE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,477 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,477 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Miami Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: 304 Hugo OK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: I17 Piqua OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.