Cessna T210N accident near San Luis Obispo, California, May 2, 2023
On May 2, 2023 at about 1:15 am local time, a 1981 Cessna T210N, registered N29TR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2023 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N, built 1981 · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N29TR · no longer on the register · serial 21064570
- 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 during the landing roll, the airplane “pulled hard right.” He added engine power “to try to get some rudder control” and the airplane veered across the runway to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted airport equipment, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing runway 29, with wind from 310° at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,694 hours in all; 862 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,694 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 22, 2022; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 894 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KNYL Yuma AZ at 10:00 pm
- Destination: KSBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 6,101 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KSBP
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSBP 012256Z 31014G21KT 10SM SCT031 15/07 A2987
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 8, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Written Statement, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.