Cessna 210N accident near Hallandale Beac, Florida, January 13, 1999
On January 13, 1999 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N5458A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hallandale Beac, Florida (Fort Lauderdale Intl. 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 1999 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hallandale Beac, Florida · Fort Lauderdale Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5458A · no longer on the register · serial 21063450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, preflight inspection of the airplane revealed approximately 55 gallons of fuel on board and no abnormalities were noted during the engine run-up. While climbing through 1500 feet MSL, the engine RPM began to fluctuate as the throttle was increased. After advising approach control of his engine problem, the pilot was given clearance to the departure airport. After the engine stopped running, the pilot switched tanks multiple times, altitude decreased and the airspeed diminished to stall speed. The pilot extended the flaps and ditched the airplane in the Atlantic Ocean. The airplane sank in 30 feet of water. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, post recovery inspection of the engine revealed no significant mechanical problems. The FAA inspector also noted, the engine was removed from the wreckage and ran at a sufficient power setting for more than ten minutes.
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: 850 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLL Ft. Lauderdale FL at 3:10 pm
- Destination: MTH Marathon FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:27 pm from FLL, 10 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.