Cessna 210L accident near Montgomery, Alabama, November 8, 1986
On November 8, 1986 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N59034, was destroyed in an accident near Montgomery, Alabama (Dannelly Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- November 8, 1986 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, Alabama · Dannelly Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N59034 · no longer on the register · serial 21060037
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FLOWN FOR SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 3 HRS ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE ACFT WAS REPORTEDLY NEARLY FULL OF FUEL BEFORE TAKEOFF. CAPACITY IS 89 GALS. AT MAX CONSUMPTION OF 22 GPH THE ACFT SHOULD HAVE STILL HAD FUEL AVAILABLE WHEN THE ENG QUIT. DURING THE FORCED LNDG THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND THE GROUND ABOUT 1 MILE FORM THE RWY. THE ENG WAS TEST RUN SATISFACTORILY AFTER THE ACC. THE ACFT HAD LAIN IN AN INVERTED POSITION OVERNITE BEFORE THE INSPECTION WHICH SHOWED ONLY A FEW OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE ACFT. THE CFI STATED THAT THE FULLEST TANK WAS SELECTED PRIOR TO THE LAST TAKEOFF.
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: 642 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 1985; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2A3 Bessemer AL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: MGM Montgomery AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 9,001 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from MGM, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.