Cessna 210 accident near Alma, Georgia, February 9, 1986
On February 9, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N4981U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alma, Georgia (Alma airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- February 9, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alma, Georgia · Alma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N4981U · no longer on the register · serial 210 58681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT DURING HIS DESCENT FROM THE 2000 FOOT CRUISE ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS PREFLIGHT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 1/2 AND 1/3 TANKS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT AND RIGHT CELLS RESPECTIVELY. AFTER DEPARTING ON THE LEFT TANK, THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT CHANGING THE FUEL SELECTOR. THE OPERATORS MANUAL INSTRUCTS THE PILOT TO PLACE THE SELECTOR IN BOTH POSITION WHEN DESCENDING WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY.
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
- Flight time: 1,406 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAI Marianna FL at 9:05 pm
- Destination: 30J Baxley GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:42 pm from ALM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.