Cessna 210L accident near Recluse, Wyoming, June 30, 1984
On June 30, 1984 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N1790X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Recluse, Wyoming (Recluse airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 30, 1984 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Recluse, Wyoming · Recluse · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1790X · no longer on the register · serial 21060810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A GRASS STRIP THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. HE COULD NOT THEN DEFINE THE STRIP FROM THE REMAINING AREA OF THE FIELD DUE TO THE TALL GRASS. HE APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT & WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 52 MPH. HE PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL YOKE TO AVOID A 15 FT HIGH BERM. THE ACFT FLEW OVER THE BERM & A SMALL POND & STALLED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE EFFECT GRASS HAS ON AN ACFT & PLANNED TO GET MORE INSTRUCTION ON SOFT FIELD PROCEDURES. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 5400 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
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 21, 1984; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.