Cessna P210N accident near Keflavik, Ic, January 29, 1986
On January 29, 1986 at about 6:26 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4906K, was destroyed in an accident near Keflavik. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- January 29, 1986 · about 6:26 pm local time
- Place
- Keflavik, IC
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4906K · no longer on the register · serial P21000361
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1146 GMT, N4906K DEPTD ON A 5 HR FLT TO NARSSARSSUAQ, GREENLAND WITH AN ESTD 7 HRS OF FUEL. WHEN THE PLT RPRTD 60 MI SW OF GREENLAND, THE DESTN VIS WAS BELOW IFR MIN & THE CEILING AT THE ALTN ARPT WAS BELOW THE MDA. THE PLT ELECTED TO CONT TO REYKJAVIK, ICELAND. LATER, AFTER HE EXTENDED HIS ETA TO REYKJAVIK BY MORE THAN 1 HR & INDICATED LOW FUEL, ICE- LAND OFFICIALS BGN SEARCH/RESCUE PROCEDURES. USAF & ICELAND ACFT & SHIPS WERE DISPATCHED BFR THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. AT 1811, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AS THE PLT WAS DSCNDG FM 15,000'. A USAF C-130 CREW RENDEZVOUSED WITH N4906K, LIGHTED THE OCEAN WITH FLARES & GAVE DITCHING ADVISE. THE PLT DITCHED IN HI SEAS APRX 36 MI WEST OF KEFLAVIK, ICELAND IN WINDS GUSTING TO 35 KTS. A USAF HELICOPTER ARRIVED 3 MIN LATER, BUT THE OCCUPANTS WERE NEVER OBSVD TO EMERGE FM THE DOWNED ACFT. RESCUE PSNL LOST SIGHT OF THE ACFT AT 1834. AT THAT TIME, THE SUN WAS 6 DEG BLO THE HORIZON. THE ELT SIGNAL CEASEDSHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE OCCUPANTS WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED WHEN THE ACFT DITCHED/SANK IN THE OCEAN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYYR Goose Bay
- Destination: BIKF Reykjavik
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 033° at 28 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.