Cessna T210M accident near Grass Valley, California, July 16, 2002
On July 16, 2002 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grass Valley, California (Nevada County Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear wheel, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing rollout. A factor in the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel to inspect the wheel in accordance with maintenance manual instructions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2002 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761HP · no longer on the register · serial 21062272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At touchdown following a normal approach, the pilot heard a "metallic clank" sound, the right main wheel broke, and the airplane veered off the runway into rough terrain and high vegetation. During the subsequent examination of the runway, black smudge marks were noted, which were consistent with a rubber transfer from the airplane's right main landing gear tire. Broken right wheel assembly components were found. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and the right main landing gear wheel assembly was examined. Upon disassembly, the inboard hub section was found broken at the inboard flange cap screws. The pilot reported he believed the hub was likely an original component, and its total time in service was 3,045.2 hours. The Cessna T210 series service manual indicates the landing gear main wheels should be removed and disassembled, and the components inspected every 50 hours. The airplane's maintenance records indicated it had been 4 years since new tires had been installed. There were no other maintenance entries to indicate that the wheel had been disassembled for inspection. An annual inspection was completed 9 months and 44 hours prior to the accident.
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: 1,059 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2001; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUN Hailey ID at 2:18 pm
- Destination: O17 Grass Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,350 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from BLU, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.