Cessna 210A accident near Chandler, Arizona, December 31, 2012
On December 31, 2012 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 210A, registered N9507X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during takeoff climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2012 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210A, built 1961 · all 210As on the register
- Registration
- N9507X · no longer on the register · serial 21057807
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed three successful touch-and-go landings. During the fourth takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing in an open field, and the airplane came to rest about 1/4 mile from the departure end of the runway. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident engine test run, the engine started and then ran for several minutes at various power settings with no anomalies noted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 277.3 hours in all; 21.2 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 232.8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,234 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 2012
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES (piston); 3,234 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 6:15 pm
- Destination: CHD Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 4,401 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from CHD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.