Cessna T210N accident near Caldwell, New Jersey, November 21, 2006
On November 21, 2006 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N210MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caldwell, New Jersey (Essex County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The private pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance, and the flight instructor's failure to take remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the night light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 2006 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, New Jersey · Essex County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N210MP · registry record · serial 21063193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being flown by a non-instrument rated private pilot, who was conducting a visual approach, in night visual metrological conditions to a 3,721-foot-long, asphalt runway. A flight instructor was handling the radio communications. Both pilots reported that the private pilot was the pilot-in-command (PIC) of the flight, however, the flight instructor listed himself as the PIC on an instrument flight rules flight plan that was filed for the flight. The airplane was lined-up for the runway, and was cleared to land, when it struck trees on final approach. The private pilot stabilized the airplane and subsequently landed on the runway; however, the nose gear collapsed after touchdown, and the airplane veered off the runway, onto a grass area. The propeller, right aileron, left horizontal stabilizer, and the left and right elevator were damaged. The private pilot reported 200 hours of total flight experience, with 50 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The flight instructor reported 2,400 hours of total flight experience, with 80 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FME Odenton MD at 10:15 pm
- Destination: CDW Caldwell NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 3,721 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from CDW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N210MP 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.