Cessna T210M accident near Indian Creek, Idaho, August 5, 2023
On August 5, 2023 at about 10:41 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna T210M, registered N7067Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Indian Creek, Idaho (Indian Creek Usfs airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, and gear up landing on a dirt airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2023 · about 10:41 pm local time
- Place
- Indian Creek, Idaho · Indian Creek Usfs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M, built 1978 · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N7067Z · no longer on the register · serial 21062572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the airplane reported that, while enroute, the engine was running rough and the airplane subsequently lost power. His attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. Due to high airspeed and low altitude the pilot elected to land gear up on a dirt airstrip which resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed 18 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank and the left fuel tank was void of fuel; neither fuel tank was breached. The operator of the airplane reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing
- Fuel starvation during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,369 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 1,338 as pilot in command; 18 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,035.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 11, 2023; 2.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 2 hours total
- Operator: Gem Air, Lcc
The flight
- Departed from: KSMN Salmon ID at 10:00 pm
- Destination: KBOI Boise ID
- Runway 04, 4,650 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KLLJ, 41 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLLJ 051755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/12 A3025
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 4, 2024. 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 (Pilot) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Phone Conversation and Email | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Fueler Information and Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.