Cessna 210N accident near Lewistown, Montana, May 16, 2003
On May 16, 2003 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N4804P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewistown, Montana (Lewistown Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The condition of the runway overrun was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2003 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lewistown, Montana · Lewistown Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4804P · no longer on the register · serial 513118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While reducing power on left downwind to configure the airplane for landing, the engine began to run rough. The pilot reapplied power and the engine smoothed out. Reducing power a second time, the engine ran rough again. After reapplying power the pilot raised the nose to slow to landing gear operating speed. After lowering the landing gear and extending the flaps to 10 degrees, and seeing he had the runway made, the pilot turned base, reduced power, and the engine quit. The airplane landed 300 to 350 feet short of the runway on the grassy extension to the runway, subsequently proceeding through a rocky area which was approximately 6 inches below the level of the runway. An FAA inspector reported that the distance from the threshold ground level to the overrun pavement surface of 6 inches exceeds the recommended maximum of 3 inches, and contributed to the substantial damage of the aircraft. The impact with the lip of the runway knocked the nose gear back, damaged the right main gear, and bent the propeller. A post-accident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies which would have prevented normal operation.
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: 2,200 hours in all; 506 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 23, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,526 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2003; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6S5 Hamilton MT at 8:15 pm
- Destination: LWT Lewistown MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from LWT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.
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.