N19FB – CESSNA T210M – 2026-03-05 NTSB Accident Report

On March 4, 2026, about 2145 central standard time, a Cessna T210M airplane, N19FB sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Deerfield, Illinois. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.

The airplane departed from an unknown location; however, the first ADS-B data for the airplane began southeast of Necedah Airport (DAF), Necedah, Wisconsin, about 2040. According to the pilot’s logbook, he had flown to DAF in the months preceding the accident. The pilot was en route to Chicago Executive Airport (PWK), Chicago, Illinois, about 150 nautical miles (nm) southeast of DAF. The flight began as a visual flight rules flight, and the pilot filed an in-flight instrument flight rules flight plan about 2049.

The pilot was conducting the RNAV 16 approach to PWK when air traffic control (ATC) issued a low altitude alert about 6 nm northwest of PWK. The pilot acknowledged the low altitude alert, and the airplane climbed about 100 ft but then began to descend. ATC issued another low altitude alert, and the pilot acknowledged the alert again, and said, “I am climbing back.” ATC then alerted the pilot that he was drifting west of course, and there were no further transmissions from the pilot.

The airplane impacted 50 ft tall trees and then the roof of a townhouse before coming to rest inverted into a residential backyard. The townhouse resident was sitting in the second floor bedroom at the time of the accident, and she reported that the engine was loud and operating before the airplane impacted the roof.

The debris field was measured about 550 ft long and on a magnetic heading of about 050°. Multiple tree branches displayed cuts at 45° angles and a broom straw appearance. At the beginning of the debris field was the left wingtip and part of the left aileron. The debris field consisted of fragmented sections of the outboard left and right wings. The propeller assembly separated from the engine and was located in the debris field. All three propeller blades were twisted and exhibited rotational scoring. Two of the propeller blades had gouges in the leading edges. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, inboard portions of the wings, and the empennage. The fuel tanks, including the auxiliary tanks, were compromised, and the total fuel at the time of the accident could not be verified. First responders reported a strong smell of aviation fuel on the ground when they arrived. The fuel strainer was removed, and the strainer bowl contained fuel. The fuel selector was on the right tank. The instrument panel was crushed, and the altimeter’s barometric pressure setting in the Kollsman Window displayed 30.04 inHg.

The airplane was retained for further examination.