Cessna T210L accident near Terrell, Texas, July 7, 1996
On July 7, 1996 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N761YL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas (Airpark East airport). It was an instructional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the mechanic's improper installation of the left main landing gear brake line, which resulted in chaffing and failure of the brake line, loss of hydraulic fluid, and inoperative brake(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1996 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Airpark East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N761YL · no longer on the register · serial 21060428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a repair of the airplane's left brake, the mechanic manufactured a hydraulic brake line and installed it; however, he did not bleed the brake nor perform a landing gear retraction test. A second mechanic was hired to add brake fluid and bleed the brake. The private pilot hired a flight instructor to get him current and qualified in the airplane, which he was purchasing. The flight instructor was also an A&P mechanic, and he was requested to check out the airplane for maintenance defects. During taxi, the flight instructor determined the left brake needed further bleeding; however, it operated satisfactory. After completing three touch and go landings, the private pilot flew the airplane to Air Park East Airport to correct all maintenance anomalies found during the flight. During the landing roll on runway 13, with the flight instructor manipulating the controls, the left brake failed, and the airplane overran the departure end of the runway, separating its nose landing gear and damaging the fire wall. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left brake line was fractured where it had been chaffing.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1996; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRL at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 1F7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,630 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from DAL, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N761YL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.