Cessna 210K accident near Show Low, Arizona, August 27, 2009
On August 27, 2009 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210K, registered N4600Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Show Low, Arizona. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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
A total loss of engine power due to the displaced oil filter adapter gasket, which resulted in an oil leak and oil exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2009 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210K K · all 210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N4600Q · no longer on the register · serial 21059500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during cruise flight he observed an oil pressure reading of zero, followed about 4 minutes later by a total loss of engine power. He made a successful forced landing to an open meadow, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine’s firewall. A post accident examination of the engine revealed that the engine’s crankshaft and connecting rod bearings exhibited lubrication distress and thermal damage, and that the number 3 crankshaft main bearing exhibited lubrication distress. It was also observed that a gasket located between the STC oil filter adapter and the oil pump housing was displaced and contained dark stains. STC instructions require that after the oil filter adapter has been installed, to re-torque the adapter after 10 hours of operation. An airframe and power plant mechanic stated that he had re-torqued the oil filter adapter, but could not produce a record of the completed maintenance action.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,760 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 7,217 as pilot in command; 433 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,192 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2009; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sedona Sky Treks INC
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 1:50 pm
- Destination: SOW Show Low AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 pm from SOW, 6 miles away
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.