Cessna 210E accident near Saratoga, Wyoming, July 29, 2005
On July 29, 2005 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 210E, registered N2361F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saratoga, Wyoming (Shively Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation. Contributing factors include the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush, the pilot's failure to calculate a weight and balance, and the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2005 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Saratoga, Wyoming · Shively Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210E · all 210Es on the register
- Registration
- N2361F · no longer on the register · serial 21058561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the airplane experienced difficulty in rotating. Eventually, the airplane did lift off and the pilot stated he raised the landing gear. The airplane encountered a crosswind during the departure climb, "stalled and dropped quickly to the ground." The airplane impacted the ground and slid for approximately 100 feet, causing substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. The take off weight of the airplane was calculated to be 3,260 pounds. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the maximum gross weight of the airplane is 3,100 pounds. Density altitude was calculated to be approximately 10,150 feet.
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; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAA Saratoga WY at 11:45 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 8,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from RWL, 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.