Cessna 210 accident near Charleston, West Virginia, January 28, 2017
On January 28, 2017 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 210, registered N59196, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Charleston, West Virginia (Yeager 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 pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2017 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, West Virginia · Yeager · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 L, built 1974 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N59196 · no longer on the register · serial 21060155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions, as he "expected" to touch down, he reduced engine power. The airplane ballooned, followed by a hard landing and a bounce. During a subsequent second bounce, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left, exited the runway, and came to a stop nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot landed on runway 23, and the reported the wind was 260° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,169 hours in all; 347 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,169 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 27, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,199 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 L7 (piston); 1,132 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRW Charleston WV at 8:30 pm
- Destination: CRW Charleston WV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 6,802 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from KCRW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 22, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N59196 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.