Cessna T210M accident near Englewood, Colorado, June 21, 1983
On June 21, 1983 at about 10:34 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761AU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 21, 1983 · about 10:34 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761AU · no longer on the register · serial 21062109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE CHECKLIST CALLS FOR FULL RICH. WHEN THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE STARTED DETONATING AND LOST POWER. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT EVIDENCE OF DETONATION AND ABNORMAL HEAT WAS FOUND. DURING A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE CONDITIONS WERE USED TO SIMULATE THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF. THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. THE PILOT WAS QUERIED ABOUT THE USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL. HEREPEATED HIS METHODS WHICH HE SAID WAS THE WAY HE WAS TAUGHT BY A CFI WHO WAS NOT FOUND FOR COMMENT. THE PILOT NEVER MENTIONED THAT THE CHECKLIST CALLS FOR FULL RICH MIXTURE FOR THE TURBOCHARGED ENGINE. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9,300 FT.
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: 476 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Castlewood Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 10:32 pm
- Destination: SKX Taos NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from APA, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.