Cessna T210L accident near Quakertown, Pennsylvania, July 18, 2003
On July 18, 2003, a Cessna T210L, registered N700PR, was destroyed in an accident near Quakertown, Pennsylvania (Quakertown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2003
- Place
- Quakertown, Pennsylvania · Quakertown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N700PR · no longer on the register · serial 21060928
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger departed for a local flight and returned to land about 15 to 20 minutes later. After landing, the pilot taxied for another takeoff. The pilot reported that the engine began to lose power about 200 to 300 feet above the ground. The airplane was not high enough for him to turn back toward the airport, and he attempted a forced landing. Witnesses in the area of the accident site observed the airplane "very low" and descending. They reported hearing "sputtering" or "popping" engine noise. The airplane struck the ground and fire immediately ensued. Examination of the engine, which sustained significant fire damage, did not reveal any catastrophic failures. The airplane had been operated about 6 to 7 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 9 days 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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,013 hours in all; 68 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 2,714 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2003; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: UKT Quakertown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,201 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
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.
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.