Cessna 210-5 accident near Muskogee, Oklahoma, August 7, 1996
On August 7, 1996 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210-5, registered N8139Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muskogee, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1996 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Muskogee, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210-5 · all 210-5s on the register
- Registration
- N8139Z · no longer on the register · serial 2050139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the engine started to run rough, and then lost power, while in cruise flight at 6,500 feet MSL. The pilot attempted to land at a nearby airport; however, he subsequently landed short of the airport in a field approximately one mile southeast of the airport. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a fence and fence posts, which resulted in leading edge damage to one wing and structural damage to both wing struts. The engine was examined by an FAA inspector, the aircraft owner, and a representative from the engine manufacturer at an local FBO. The contents of the fuel system were examined, and evidence of fuel contamination was found. The fuel in the tanks was yellow/straw in color and lacked the appearance of 100LL fuel; however, no diesel or jet fuel was detected. New spark plugs were installed, and the airplane was defueled and serviced with fresh 100LL fuel. The engine was started, and it operated normally through the normal operating range.
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
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 369 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,348 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1996; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lonoke AR at 1:00 pm
- Destination: GTR Guthrie OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.