Cessna T210N accident near Fall River Mill, California, June 11, 1995
On June 11, 1995 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5436Y, was destroyed in an accident near Fall River Mill, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fatigue failure of the No. 2 lower connecting rod bolt as a result of improper torque during the last engine overhaul.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1995 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fall River Mill, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5436Y · no longer on the register · serial 21064205
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LEVELING OFF AT CRUISE, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. A 2-INCH REDUCTION IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE RESULTED IN A METALLIC SOUND. ANOTHER 2-INCH REDUCTION RESULTED IN A LOUDER METALLIC SOUND. THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE THEN FELL TO 20 INCHES, THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO, AND OIL BEGAN TO SPLATTER ON THE WINDSCREEN. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A LAVA FIELD SURROUNDED BY TREES. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN THE AIRCRAFT SLID AND NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 2 LOWER CONNECTING ROD BOLT HAD FRACTURED. MEASUREMENTS PERFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THE ROD BOLT HAD BEEN UNDERTORQUED. THE ENGINE WAS LAST OVERHAULED 509 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 6,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 1995; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LMT Klamath Falls OR at 8:05 pm
- Destination: O61 Cameron Park CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from LMT, 41 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.