Cessna T210-H accident near Englewood, Colorado, October 15, 1984
On October 15, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210-H, registered N6917R, was destroyed in an accident near Englewood, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- October 15, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210-H · all T210-Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6917R · no longer on the register · serial T210-0317
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM SCOTTSDALE. HE ENCOUNTERED IMC SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE FLT PROGRESSED UNEVENTFULLY UNTIL IN THE VICINITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS WHEN THE PLT RPTED A PROBLEM WITH HIS DIRECTIONAL GYRO. THE PLT DESCENDED FROM 19000 TO 8000 FT IN CLOUDS, ICING CONDITIONS AND SNOW. TWENTY FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE PLT BEGAN THE DESCENT HE RADIOED THAT HE HAD AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND WAS 'GETTING ALOT OF SURGING.' TWO MINUTES LATER ALL RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH N6917R. EXAM OF THE ACFT ENG AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL ENG OPERATION. DUR TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED IN THE IMPACT, THE POSITION OF THE ALTERNATE AIR DOOR COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GND IN A RIGHT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE FLT WAS DESTUNED FOR BROOMFIELD (JEFFCO ARPT) CO. BUT DIVERTED TO ARAPAHOE ARPT WHEN THE ENG PROBLEM OCCURRED.
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: 600 hours in all; 265 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Cont TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 4:08 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from APA, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.