Cessna P210N accident near Cleburne, Texas, June 5, 1999
On June 5, 1999 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4774K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleburne, Texas. It was a personal 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
The total loss of engine power resulting from a failure of the #4 cylinder exhaust valve and/or piston. Factors were the dark night conditions and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1999 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Cleburne, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4774K · registry record · serial P21000305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night forced landing, following a total loss of engine power, the airplane, maneuvered by the pilot to avoid telephone poles, struck crops & nosed over. At a cylinder overhaul (166.5 hours prior to the accident), the owner requested the installation of used serviceable components. A serviceable exhaust valve & piston were installed in the #4 cylinder. Following the accident, metal pieces were found in the intake tubes, engine & oil pump. The #4 cylinder piston was broken into numerous pieces, and the exhaust valve head was separated from the valve stem. Damage to the #4 cylinder valves & piston precluded metallurgical examination to determine the mode of failure. The #4 connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft. The connecting rod bearings were found coated with oil and without evidence of lack of lubrication. Testing of both front lap belts, which failed during the accident, and both front shoulder harnesses found the belts and shoulder harnesses did not meet manufacturer's specifications.
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: 402 hours in all; 316 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 375 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1998; 161 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P5B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FWS Fort Worth TX at 1:55 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from FTW, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.