Cessna 210B accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, September 22, 2004
On September 22, 2004 at about 10:48 pm local time, a Cessna 210B, registered N9757X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper leaning procedures and delayed decision to abort the takeoff when it became obvious that the engine was not developing full power. A factor in the accident was the pilot's decision to use a runway with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2004 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Flagstaff Pulliam Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210B · all 210Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9757X · no longer on the register · serial 21058057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane went over an embankment at the departure end of the runway and nosed over after the pilot aborted the takeoff. The pilot elected to takeoff with a quartering tailwind on the 6,900-foot-long runway in spite of the tower controller offering the pilot the use of the opposite runway. Witnesses indicated that the airplane lifted off the ground with 2,000 feet of runway remaining. The engine sounded as if it was not producing full power and was heard to be surging or revving up and down. The pilot noted that after liftoff the airplane would not climb over 20-25 feet above the runway and he elected to abort the takeoff and touched down with approximately 500 feet of runway remaining. According to the pilot, he adjusted the mixture for peak engine revolutions per minute before takeoff. The fuel flow indicator has white radial markings denoting the best power fuel flow for different field elevations. The recommended procedure noted in the airplane's owner manual informs the pilot that he/she should utilize the fuel flow indicator and adjust the fuel flow to that which corresponds to the field elevation marked on the face of the dial. However, the owner's manual was not in the airplane, and the pilot was utilizing a checklist that did not have the information for a high performance takeoff. The airport elevation was 7,001 feet mean sea level. The density altitude was calculated as 8,461 feet. Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that its spark plugs were dark black in color, which is consistent to an excessively rich mixture setting. Following installation of a serviceable propeller, the engine was started and exercised through out it's normal power range with no anomalies noted.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 578 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 404 as pilot in command; 102 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,388.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2003; 32.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 10:48 pm
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,999 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from FLG
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.