Cessna 210K accident near Edgewater, Maryland, December 9, 2006
On December 9, 2006 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 210K, registered N9449M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgewater, Maryland (Lee airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance will on approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the night-light conditions, an obstruction light that was not illuminated, and trees that had grown above the height of the obstruction light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2006 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewater, Maryland · Lee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210K · all 210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N9449M · no longer on the register · serial 21059349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a night visual approach to a 2,500-foot-long, 48-foot-wide, runway. The airplane struck the tops of trees, about 100 feet tall, located about 560 feet prior to the runway, and 80 feet left of the extended runway centerline. An obstruction light was mounted on a pole near the trees; however, the height of the obstruction light was significantly below the surrounding trees and it was not illuminated at the time of the accident. The trees were depicted in an airport diagram; however, they would have been difficult to discern at night. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The airport was inspected by the Maryland State Aviation Administration approximately 8 months prior to the accident, and found to be in satisfactory operating condition. A subsequent obstruction analysis resulted in the trimming and or removal of numerous trees surrounding the airport, including the trees around the obstruction light, about 5 months after 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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,723 hours in all; 319 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNC Mcminnville TN at 7:20 pm
- Destination: ANP Edgewater MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 2,500 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from NAK, 5 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.
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.