Cessna T210 accident near Columbia, Missouri, November 11, 1989
On November 11, 1989 at about 11:13 pm local time, a Cessna T210, registered N6397U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, Missouri (Columbia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO A MISSING TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST DUCT AND TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY. THE CLAMP USED TO RETAIN THE TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY TO THE TURBOCHARGER WAS ALSO MISSING, CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1989 · about 11:13 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Missouri · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N6397U · no longer on the register · serial 21064952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DETECTED AN IN FLIGHT FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE TURBOCHARGER, EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO SOFT TERRAIN & THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE TURBOCHARGER OVERBOARD EXHAUST DUCT, TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY & CLAMP WERE MISSING. AN ANNUAL INSP WAS DONE ON 9/16/89, 26 FTL HRS PRIOR, AT WHICH TIME THE TURBOCHARGER WAS INSPECTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN UNDATED ENTRY IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK STATING THAT THE TURBOCHARGER CENTER HOUSING WAS ADJUSTED & THAT THE LOCK TABS WERE REPLACED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,262 hours in all; 615 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 731 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1989; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520CE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COU Columbia MO at 11:00 pm
- Destination: AMW Ames IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from COU, 2 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.