Cessna P210N accident near Hazard, Kentucky, February 23, 1996
On February 23, 1996 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N90AD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hazard, Kentucky. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the engine crankshaft, which resulted in loss of engine power, a forced landing, and subsequent damage to the airplane. A factor relating to the accident was: lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1996 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hazard, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N90AD · registry record · serial P210-00156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane was level at 6000 feet MSL, when the engine lost power. He stated that his attempts to restart the engine included switching fuel tanks and using the boost pumps, but all were unsuccessful. A forced landing was made in a strip mine, where the airplane came to rest with substantial damage. An FAA Inspector stated that an engine teardown revealed that the crankshaft had failed in the vicinity of the two rear cylinders. Records indicated the engine had been operated 913 hours 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: 1,467 hours in all; 697 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,361 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,376 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: LOZ London KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.