Cessna P210N accident near Greenwood, Delaware, December 15, 1999
On December 15, 1999 at about 12:25 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N450M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenwood, Delaware (Sugar Hill Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to use full power for takeoff, which resulted in not obtaining a positive rate of climb and the inadvertent collision with trees. A factor was the fog.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 1999 · about 12:25 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, Delaware · Sugar Hill Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N450M · no longer on the register · serial P21000631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made an IFR departure from an uncontrolled turf runway with a soft surface. He initiated the takeoff with full power, and then the airplane swerved left. He reduced power, regained directional control and re-added power, however, he did not check the power setting. After becoming airborne, the airplane initially climbed out of ground effect and then settled into trees off the departure end of the runway. Passing through trees, the engine lost power, and the pilot landed gear up in an open field. The pilot reported that visibility was about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile at the time, and the ceiling was about 100 feet.
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: 4,500 hours in all; 1,110 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1999; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250 B17F (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HRJ Harnett NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:23 pm from GED, 12 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N450M 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.