N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clayton, Alabama 36106
Thursday, April 3, 2014 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On April 3, 2014 about 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N1631X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a road following a total loss of engine power near Clayton, Alabama. The flight instructor (CFI ) was not injured and the pilot receiving instruction received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight that was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Valdosta Regional Airport (VLD), Valdosta, Georgia about 1510 eastern daylight time and was destined for Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL), Tuscaloosa, Alabama. According to the CFI, after departing from VLD and completing a climb to 6,000 feet above mean sea level, the engine fuel flow was lower than expected for the flight with relation to the setting of the carburetor mixture control. The pilot receiving instruction added that about an hour into the flight, and about 15 minutes after transferring fuel, the engine "clunked and shuddered." The CFI assumed control of the airplane, maneuvered the airplane towards a nearby airport, and the pilot receiving instruction initiated an unsuccessful restart of the engine. Both pilots reported that the engine oil pressure and propeller rpm both indicated zero, and the manifold pressure was about 17psi. After determining that the airplane was not going to make the airport, the CFI selected a grass field and then switched to a road after discovering powerlines spanning across the field. The pilot receiving instruction declared an emergency with Air Traffic Control (Atlanta Center) just prior to the CFI executing a forced landing to the road. Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine firewall was crushed aft and that both wings were substantially damaged. The airplane's engine and a portable GPS unit were retained by the NTSB for further examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/2014
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Clayton
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36106
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 315437N
Event Location Longitude 0852215W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1658 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KEUF
Elevation of weather observation facility 285
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 7
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report 03/04/2014 19:58-> METAR KEUF 031958Z AUTO 18010G1
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2014 2:49PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1631X
NTSB Number ERA14LA179
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model T210L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21060667
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats 0
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 5 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 326
Airframe Hours 8704
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHERN AERIAL IMAGES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NORTHPORT
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 354762932
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SOUTHERN AERIAL IMAGES INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NORTHPORT
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 354762932
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VLD
Departure City VALDOSTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1510
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TCL
Destination City Tuscaloosa
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2014 2:50PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --