Cessna P210N accident near New Castle, Delaware, January 15, 1994
On January 15, 1994 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N5088W, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Castle, Delaware (New Castle County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF PARTIAL ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1994 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- New Castle, Delaware · New Castle County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5088W · no longer on the register · serial P21000636
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6,000 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT DESCENDED TO AN AIRPORT AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE DESCENT, ENGINE POWER WAS RESTORED. AFTER LANDING, A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL AND THE ENGINE WAS RUN UP WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND CONTINUED THE FLIGHT. UPON REACHING A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 8,000 FEET MSL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE FUEL MIXTURE CONTROL AND BOOST PUMP, BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS VECTORED THROUGH THE CLOUDS FOR A LANDING AT AN AIRPORT. THE PILOT REALIZED HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ENGINE POWER TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, SO HE FORCE LANDED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE HIT LIGHT POLES AND TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE, ASSOCIATED FUEL COMPONENTS, AND FUEL SAMPLES DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT DEFICIENCIES. THE REPORTED TEMPERATURE AT 7,000 FEET MSL WAS MINUS 18 DEGREES F.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,403 hours in all; 835 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1993; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABE Allentown PA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CRE Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 12°F (-11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ILG, 270 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.