Cessna P210N accident near Rifle, Colorado, October 18, 2009
On October 18, 2009 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N7217S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Rifle, Colorado (Garfield County Region 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 pilot’s failure to properly identify the power lever and, instead, manipulating the propeller condition lever.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2009 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rifle, Colorado · Garfield County Region Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N7217S · no longer on the register · serial P21000132
- 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 during the initial climb he retarded the power lever and the engine did not respond and remained at full power. He attempted to cycle the power level and only experienced a change in power output when the control was at the flight idle position and at the full-power position. While preparing to land, the pilot cycled the power between flight idle and full power in an effort to maintain airspeed and attain the proper glide path. During final approach, the pilot attempted to increase power again but the engine did not respond and remained at flight idle. The airplane landed short of the approach end of the runway and came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the engine and associated components revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The investigative team and an independent certificated flight instructor duplicated the engine power anomalies described by the pilot by manipulating the propeller condition lever in place of the power lever, which is likely what the pilot did prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,423 hours in all; 169 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,237 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 4,016 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls Royce 250-B17 F/2 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIL Rifle CO
- Destination: RIL Rifle CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from RIL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.