Cessna P210N N7361K

Summary

On 21 June 2022 at about 13:40 local time, a Cessna P210N registered N7361K was involved in an accident near Cresson, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2022 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Cresson, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Bourland Field Airport (50F)

Coordinates

32.5791, -97.5836

Aircraft

Cessna P210N

Registration

N7361K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Cleburne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA262

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to complete proper preflight performance planning and his operation of the airplane outside of the manufacturer's specified weight and balance limitations, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain altitude and an impact with trees and terrain during an attempted forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was conducting a third maintenance test flight after a new engine had been installed with the airplane’s co-owner and two other passengers on board. The airplane was full of fuel and no preflight weight and balance calculations were completed. During the takeoff roll, the pilot rotated about 51 kts, which was 20 knots below normal rotation speed, and the airplane became airborne briefly before it settled back on the runway. The pilot then added nose up trim, rotated at 55 kts, and climbed slowly. The pilot continued to climb the airplane when the co-owner heard the stall warning horn. The pilot made a left turn to avoid terrain at the south end of the runway and then setup for a forced landing as the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that the airplane was overweight and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident weight and balance calculation determined that the airplane was about 359 lbs over the maximum takeoff weight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.