Cessna 210 accident near Placerville, California, October 11, 2008
On October 11, 2008, a Cessna 210, registered N7418E, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Placerville, California (Placerville Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2008
- Place
- Placerville, California · Placerville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N7418E · no longer on the register · serial 57118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to entering the airport’s airspace, the pilot attempted to obtain traffic advisories via the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF); however, he received no response. Upon arrival, he overflew the airport to check the wind direction, and made a right-hand entry to the traffic pattern. The pilot stated that he was on a 1/2-mile final, but was still high, so he put the airplane in a forward slip to lose altitude. About 200 feet above the ground he recovered to level flight, but was still too high. He decided to go around and pushed the throttle full in, but the engine did not respond. After checking the settings, he reduced the throttle and then pushed it in again, with no response. The pilot stated that due to obstacles at the end of the runway, he decided to make a forced landing on the remaining last half of the runway. He pushed the nose toward the runway. When the airplane was about 10 to 15 feet above the ground he pitched up and the airplane landed flat on all three landing gear. The nose landing gear collapsed after he applied the brakes, which allowed the propeller blades to strike the ground. The front engine cowling, nose landing gear, and the left wing spar sustained structural damage. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane landed with an 8- to 10-knot tailwind. A visual examination of the engine revealed no catastrophic preimpact anomalies. A post accident engine ground run was performed with no discrepancies noted.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 284 hours in all; 202 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 4, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,356.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AJO Corona CA at 9:40 pm
- Destination: PVF Placerville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.