Cessna 210N accident near Riverton, Wyoming, January 12, 1982
On January 12, 1982 at about 2:11 am local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N6558A, was destroyed in an accident near Riverton, Wyoming (Riverton Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 12, 1982 · about 2:11 am local time
- Place
- Riverton, Wyoming · Riverton Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6558A · no longer on the register · serial 21063551
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT IMPACTED A HILL IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 8,000 FT BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 28 & 1,800 FT LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE EXTENDED. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55 FT ABOVE THE AIRPORT ELEVATION. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING A SNOW STORM. THE FLT HAD ORIGINALLY DEPARTED JACKSON,WY EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT DIVERTED TO RIVERTON DUE TO AN OIL LEAK CAUSED BY THE OIL CAP NOT BEING IN PLACE. THE FLT REMAINED IN RIVERTON APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS WHILE THE ACFT & ENG WAS BEING CLEANED. PRIOR TO DEPARTING JACKSON WITNESSES STATED THE PLT WAS "SOMEWHAT RUSHED & ANXIOUS TO DEPART JACKSON" & "THE MAN HAD A BAD CASE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL GET-HOME-ITIS, & HE WAS GOING WHETHER IT WAS VFR OR IFR." THE ACFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 253 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT.BOTH INBOARD CLOTH SEAT BELTS SEPARATED AT THE JUNCTURE WHERE THEY PASS THROUGH THE METAL GUIDES LOCATED ON THE SIDES OF EACH SEAT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 737 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 615 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Riverton WY at 7:09 pm
- Destination: Wahpeton ND
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 8,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from RIW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 1 | 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.