Cessna T210N accident near Bakersfield, California, August 17, 2012
On August 17, 2012 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6493N, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bakersfield, California (Meadows Field 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
A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to an in-flight fire of undetermined origin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2012 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Meadows Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6493N · registry record · serial 21063067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following departure, the pilot banked the airplane to align with the right crosswind of the traffic pattern. He observed smoke entering the cockpit, and the engine began to produce only partial power. The pilot chose to return to the airport, but, due to the power loss, the airplane was unable to reach the runway. The pilot landed the airplane in a field outside the airport's perimeter. The exhaust clamp was found fractured. An area of the fracture appeared flat with granular features, but no clear evidence of preexisting cracks or progressive crack growth was observed. Circumferential cracks were noted in the retainer segments. Although these cracks may have been preexisting, they were not long enough to allow separation of the joint before the band fracture. The exhaust clamp likely fractured due to overstress loading of the joint during the landing. The cause of the in-flight fire could not be determined from the remaining evidence.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,396 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 187 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2012; 19 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Bakersfield CA at 9:20 pm
- Destination: REI Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from BFL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.