Cessna T210L accident near Brevard, North Carolina, March 10, 2001
On March 10, 2001 at about 5:57 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N2172S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brevard, North Carolina (Transylvania County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight collision with a tree. Factors in this accident were the pilot's inadequate planned approach and excessive airspeed on the approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2001 · about 5:57 pm local time
- Place
- Brevard, North Carolina · Transylvania County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2172S · registry record · serial 21061133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane high and fast on the approach, landing about 3/4 of the way down the runway, bounce, and start to go-around. Witnesses heard power applied, the airplane became airborne, impacted a tree and came to rest in a cornfield. According to the pilot's statement, "...flew over airport mid field, mountain and hills on southeast end of runway caused [a] higher than desired approach. Was high on approach and slightly hot. Attempted go around, [and] failed to clear trees lining departure end of runway, hit tree tops, hit ground."
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 372 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 23, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,618 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Brevard
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from AVL, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.