Cessna T-210L accident near Farmington, Minnesota, March 7, 1983
On March 7, 1983 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna T-210L, registered N732CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 7, 1983 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Farmington, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-210L · all T-210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N732CJ · no longer on the register · serial 21061407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN IFR FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT 4000 FT MSL AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN THE VICINITY OF A LAKE THAT WAS COVERED WITH ICE. THE PILOT DID NOT KNOW THE CONDITION OF THE ICE, SO HE LANDED WITH THE GEAR UP FOR BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE WEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OVER THE ICE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET, THEN BROKE THROUGH. THE DOOR ON THE PILOT'S SIDE WAS JAMMED SHUT; HOWEVER, THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED THE PASSENGER TO OPEN THE OTHER DOOR. THE COCKPIT BEGAN TO FILL WITH WATER, SO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER CLIMBED ON TOP OF THE PLANE AND WAITED FOR HELP. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURES. IT OPERATED TO 2000 RPM DURING AN ENG RUN-UP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 510 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,067 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1982; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.