Cessna T210 accident near Upland, California, March 11, 2026
On March 11, 2026 at about 5:26 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna T210, registered N29138, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper approach, which resulted in a long landing, runway excursion, and a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2026 · about 5:26 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 L, built 1973 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N29138 · registry record · serial 21059815
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was attempting to land at an airport he had never flown to. During his first attempt, he had difficulty slowing the airplane and opted to abort the landing. On the second approach, he landed long and upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and then settled back on the runway surface. The pilot applied heavy braking and the airplane slowed while he continued into the paved overrun. When the pavement ended, he had little braking traction on the dirt and he attempted to steer the airplane to the left, but the airplane was moving too slowly to obtain effective rudder steering and he did not have sufficient traction to steer with the brakes. The airplane continued through the dirt to an embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted with the wings on a chain-link fence. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,098.7 hours in all; 1,009 in this make and model; 2,017.5 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 12, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,388 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2025; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 4,388 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L08 Borrego Springs CA at 4:46 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06/2, 3,863 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 am from KCCB
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCCB 031835Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM CLR 17/08 A3005 RMK AO2
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N29138 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna T210 Turbo Centurion 1,282 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H 11 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cable Airport · nearest airport
- Borrego Valley Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA124.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.