Cessna T210N accident near Golovin, Alaska, July 19, 1989
On July 19, 1989 at about 4:37 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6539N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Golovin, Alaska (Golovin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS SELECTION OF THE TAXIWAY (WRONG RUNWAY) FOR TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S PHYSICAL CONDITION (FATIGUE), HIS SELF INDUCED PRESSURE, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1989 · about 4:37 am local time
- Place
- Golovin, Alaska · Golovin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6539N · no longer on the register · serial 21063095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MISTOOK THE TWY FOR THE RWY & BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ON THE TWY. WHEN HE REALIZED HIS ERROR, HIS SPEED WAS TOO FAST TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN ONTO THE RWY OR STOP & TOO SLOW TO FLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OFF AN EMBANKMENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RWY & WAS DAMAGED. THERE WERE 8 PERSONS ABOARD THE 6-PLACE ACFT. THE 2 EXTRA PERSONS WERE NOT USING SEAT BELTS. ONE (A 10 YR OLD BOY) WAS SITTING BETWEEN THE 2 FRONT SEATS WITHOUT A BELT & ANOTHER (A 10 YR OLD GIRL) WAS SITTING ON THE LAP OF ANOTHER PASSENGER. ALSO, SHOULDER HARNESSES WERE AVAILABLE FOR 2 FRONT SEAT PAX, BUT THEY WERE NOT USING THEM. THE PLT HAD BEEN ON AN IRREGULAR SCHEDULE & HAD VERY LITTLE SLEEP IN THE PRECEDING 2 OR 3 DAYS. ALSO, HE WAS RPRTD TO BE UNDER PRESSURE TO RETURN TO NOME TO RESUME A RECORD SETTING AROUND-THE-WORLD FLT INVOLVING HIS 11 YEAR OLD SON. THE TWY ANGLED TO THE APCH END OF RWY 2 FROM THE WEST-SOUTHWEST. THE WIND WAS RPRTD TO BE VARIABLE FROM THE SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KTS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,275 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1989; 145 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: OME Nome AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,720 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.