Cessna T210K accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, May 26, 2000
On May 26, 2000 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna T210K, registered N9457M, was destroyed in an accident near Buena Vista, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's disregard of the weather forecast, and his VFR flight into IMC. Contributing factors were snow showers, fog, and the mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2000 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Vista, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210K · all T210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N9457M · no longer on the register · serial 21059357
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot filed a flight plan, and was briefed of mountain obscuration and that VFR flight was not recommended. A witness driving over a mountain pass observed the airplane flying at an estimated 300 to 400 feet AGL. The witness said that the fog and snow showers allowed him to follow the airplane only for a few seconds. Search and rescue personnel located the wreckage on a heavily forested mountainside two days later. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact engine or airframe abnormalities that might have affected the airplane's performance. Toxicological reports indicate that the pilot had the metabolites of Valium and Prozac in his body. The FAA does not approve these prescribed medications for pilots, while they are on flight statues.
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: 2,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,427 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 8:21 pm
- Destination: U96 Halls Crossing UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 113°F (45°C), dew point 97°F (36°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from LXV, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.