Cessna T210M accident near Twentyninepalms, California, July 14, 2005
On July 14, 2005 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N210NS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twentyninepalms, California (Bauer 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 failure to verify the current local wind condition that resulted in his selection of the wrong runway and an inadvertent downwind landing, a runway overrun and a ground collision with objects. A factor in the accident was the short runway and its dirt surface, which reduced brake effectiveness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2005 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Twentyninepalms, California · Bauer Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N210NS · registry record · serial 21062266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane overran the runway's end and skidded into a block wall during a downwind landing. Prior to takeoff, the pilot had spoken with the airstrip's owner who reported that the wind was calm. Upon arriving at the airport, the pilot made a straight-in approach to runway 09 without first verifying the local wind direction. Runway 27 was available for use. The airport was equipped with windsocks that were at the approach ends of both runways, and witnesses said the winds were from the west at approximately 15 knots. The pilot said that during rollout about midway down the runway, the airplane seemed to accelerate. There was insufficient remaining runway on the 2,000-foot-long dirt airstrip to go-around, so the pilot applied brakes. The airplane impacted the block wall at 20 mph. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,092 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 61CA 29 Palms CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 111°F (44°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from NXP, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N210NS 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.