Cessna P210 accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, December 1, 1982
On December 1, 1982 at about 4:22 am local time, a Cessna P210, registered N4721P, was destroyed in an accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Joe Foss Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- December 1, 1982 · about 4:22 am local time
- Place
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Joe Foss Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210 · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N4721P · no longer on the register · serial P21000091
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1915 WHILE ENROUTE THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DESTINATION WX WAS 100 FT OBSCURED, 3/8 MI IN FOG. AT 2140 THE PLT CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL & WAS ADVISED THE WX WAS 100 FT OBSCURED & 1/8 MI WITH AN RVR FOR RWY 3 OF 2,400 FT. HE WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 3 APPROACH & ADVISED THE RVR WAS NOW 1,600 FT. DURING THE APPROACH THE PLT WAS ADVISED TWICE OF BEING FIRST RIGHT OF COURSE & THEN LEFT OF COURSE. AT ABOUT 2207 THE PLT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH & AT 2217 WAS CLEARED FOR A SECOND APPROACH. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH THE PLT WAS AGAIN ADVISED OF GOING LEFT OF COURSE. THE ACFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 1,250 FT LEFT OF THE LOCALIZER COURSE & APPROXIMATELY 3,250 FT PAST THE THRESHOLD TO RWY 3.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,128 hours in all; 771 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 976 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 920 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3V5 Ft. Collins CO at 6:45 pm
- Destination: YNG Youngstown OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:26 pm from WSFO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.