Cessna T210N accident near Corona, California, July 7, 2009
On July 7, 2009 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5287A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Corona, California (Corona Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate flare during touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2009 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5287A · registry record · serial 21063349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The approach to the runway was normal and the pilot configured the airplane for landing. The airplane touched down on the runway surface hard, resulting in it bouncing down the runway two or three times. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane came to rest over halfway down the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. Inspection of the airframe found that the firewall was substantially damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,694 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,501 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2008; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,913 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tax Busters INC
The flight
- Departed from: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM at 1:54 pm
- Destination: KAJO Corona CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07, 3,200 ft by 59 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KAJO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.