Cessna T210M accident near Flora, Indiana, March 23, 1985
On March 23, 1985 at about 3:15 am local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N732RX, was destroyed in an accident near Flora, Indiana (Flora airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. 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 23, 1985 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Flora, Indiana · Flora · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N732RX · no longer on the register · serial 21061724
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT DEPT DANVILLE, IL NO FLT PLAN FOR INDIANAPOLIS, IN ENROUTE HE ENCOUNTERED IFR CONDITIONS AND REVERSED COURSE. THE PILOT THEN LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER ON ACFT. FLYING NORTH, PILOT SAW FLORA MUNI THRU BREAKS IN OVERCAST. PUMPED GEAR DOWN AND ONLY EXTENDED-LOCKED NOSE GR PILOT LD LONG, DOWN WIND AND WENT OFF DEPT END OF RUNWAY CROSSED ROAD SIDE DITCH AND NOSED OVER INVERTED. BURNED LEAD ON ALTERNATOR CAUSED LOSS OF ELEC POWER.
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: 315 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 234 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1985; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNV Danville IL
- Destination: I21 Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,640 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.