Pilot Debrief

CESSNA T210 near Loíza, PR — 2026-05-30

Investigation ongoingERA26LA223
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Date
2026-05-30
Location
Loíza, PR, USA
Airport
SJU
Aircraft
CESSNA T210
Registration
N210PL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On May 30, 2026, about 0744 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna T210, N210PL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Loiza, Puerto Rico. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight post maintenance. During takeoff and the initial climb, the engine was running normally with no discrepancies observed. After 5 minutes of flying, at about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot noticed an engine vibration. He then noted that after about 1 minute, the engine began to produce “explosion” noises, the oil pressure was very low, and the oil temperature was high. The pilot maneuvered to return to the departure airport and declared an emergency; however, the airplane would not have been able to reach the airport, and he performed a forced landing on a road. As the airplane touched down, it contacted a pole and quickly decelerated. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA inspector found several gallons of fuel in both fuel tanks. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Initial climb
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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