Cessna T210L accident near Boise, Idaho, February 3, 2013
On February 3, 2013 at about 2:24 am local time, a 1975 Cessna T210L, registered N8465L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Boise, Idaho (Boise Air Terminal airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath and stabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 2013 · about 2:24 am local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · Boise Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L, built 1975 · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N8465L · no longer on the register · serial 21060635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had been with the company about 2 weeks, and a pilot-rated passenger was on board the airplane to instruct the pilot on the use of the equipment associated with aerial survey work. The pilot had not previously flown this make/model airplane, so the passenger was also facilitating the pilot's understanding of the airplane and its individual characteristics. The pilot completed about 3 hours of survey work and then proceeded to the airport for an instrument landing system approach. The pilot reported that, as the airplane neared the decision height, he observed lights on the ground, which he believed were part of the airport environment, so he continued the approach. When he subsequently determined that the approach was unstable, it was too late to execute a missed approach, and he landed the airplane short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot and passenger safely exited the airplane.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,323 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,713 hours
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mar-Tech Engineering LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TWF Twin Falls ID at 11:20 pm
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10R, 9,763 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 100 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KBOI
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.