Cessna T210L accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, April 5, 1998
On April 5, 1998 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N591DC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the number 1 piston, which resulted in loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing. 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
- April 5, 1998 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N591DC · registry record · serial 210-60147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a descent for landing with the power set at 23 inches of manifold pressure and 2,300 rpm, there was a loud noise, and something was observed to come out of the cowling. This was followed by a sudden loss of engine power, severe engine vibration, and light blue smoke in the cockpit. The pilots landed on a dirt road, but the airplane struck a sand dune, bounced, and nosed over. Postaccident engine examination disclosed the #1 piston had broken in half. The top half of the piston remained in the upper (outer) portion of the #1 cylinder. The bottom half of the piston was destroyed. The connecting rod and the cap bolt had separated. The camshaft and its splined end (where it attached to the oil pump) were damaged, and the oil pump had seized. There was 'necking down' of the rod cap bolts, consistent with tension overload. The engine had accrued 1,464.7 hours of flight time since new, and 915.1 hours of flight time since major overhaul.
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: 516 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1997; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5T6 NM at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 5T6
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from ELP, 20 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.
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.