Cessna P210N accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, January 30, 1984
On January 30, 1984 at about 6:49 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4447F, was destroyed in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina (Greensboro High Point airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1984 · about 6:49 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Greensboro High Point
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4447F · registry record · serial PS1000619
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ARPT WX HAD JUST CHANGED TO IFR. HE WAS ASSIGNED AN ALT (2900 FT MSL) & PROVIDED A VECTOR FOR AN ILS APCH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PLT ADVISED THAT HE WAS 'HAVING MOTOR DIFFICULTY & NEEDED TO COME STRAIGHT-IN.' HE WAS PROVIDED A VECTOR TO THE ARPT, BUT THE ACFT WAS LOSING ALT FAST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT LANDED GEAR UP, ON A BOULEVARD, WESTBOUND. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A STEEL STREET SIGN, A WESTBOUND AUTO, 2 STEEL STREET SIGN POSTS & A CONCRETE GUARDRAIL, THEN BURNED. TWO PASSENGERS ESCAPED BY KICKING OUT A LEFT REAR WINDOW & CLIMBING OUT. THE 3RD PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THRU THE WINDOW, WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED & SUBSEQUENTLY DIED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING WAS MINIMAL EVEN THOUGHT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS RUPTURED. ONLY A FEW DROPS OF FUEL WERE OBTAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK. FUEL CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT THE ACFT SHOULD HAVE CONSUMED ABOUT 44.5 GAL SINCE IT WAS REFUEL. USABLE FUEL IN EACH TANK WAS 44.5 GAL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 117 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O;, Wilmington NC at 5:36 pm
- Destination: GSO Greensboro NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from GSO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.