Cessna T210J accident near Moab, Utah, June 13, 1985
On June 13, 1985 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna T210J, registered N2282R, was destroyed in an accident near Moab, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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 13, 1985 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Moab, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210J · all T210Js on the register
- Registration
- N2282R · no longer on the register · serial TSIO-5202
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & A PASSENGER MADE A LOW LEVEL PASS OVER THE COLORADO RIVER TO DROP A PACKAGE TO FRIENDS, WHO WERE RAFTING ON THE RIVER. THE RIVER WAS IN A CANYON WITH WALLS APRX 500 TO 700 FT HIGH. THE PLT SAID THE ENG LOST POWER WHEN THE ACFT WAS IN THE CANYON, SO HE DITCHED THE PLANE IN THE RIVER. HE REPORTED THAT NO ENG PROBLEMS WERE NOTED PRIOR TO THE LOW PASS. THE ACFT WAS NOT RECOVERED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 4100 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: 800 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 2:05 pm
- Destination: Hite CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.