Cessna P210N accident near Hayden, Colorado, August 31, 1985
On August 31, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4780K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayden, Colorado (Yampa Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 31, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hayden, Colorado · Yampa Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4780K · no longer on the register · serial P210-00311
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT SAID ENG BEGAN SURGING DURING DESCENT FROM CURISE ALT. AFTER ADJUSTING BOOST PUMP, THROTTLE, AND MIXTURE, SURGING CEASED. PLT SAID HE DROPPED FLAPS AND LOWERED LANDING GEAR AT 2000 FT AGL AND 5 MI FROM ARPT. ENG BEGAN TO SURGE AGAIN. ADJUSTMENT OF THROTTLE AND MIXTURE DID NOT CORRECT CONDITION. ENG THEN LOST ALL POWER AND PLT MADE FORCED LANDING IN WHEAT FIELD 3 MI FROM ARPT. EXAM OF ENG REVEALED UPPER DECK PRESSURE REFERENCE LINE FROM MANIFOLD TO LEFT BANK FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE ASS'Y WAS DISCONNECTED. LINE WAS STUFFED UNDERNEATH OTHER HOSES IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT. HOSE CLAMP WAS FOUND ON METAL CHANNEL. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED 7.3 FLYING HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. UPPER DECK PRESSURE REFERENCE LINE HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO REMOVE AND REPLACE ALTERNATOR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 843 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 707 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 954 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1984; 89 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: LBF North Platte NE at 5:00 pm
- Destination: HDN Hayden CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 6,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from EGE, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.