Cessna T210L accident near Gallup, New Mexico, September 11, 1985
On September 11, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N399KM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Gallup Muni airport). It was an instructional 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
- September 11, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Gallup Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N399KM · registry record · serial 21059982
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS RETURNING FROM A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT. PRIOR TO LANDING, HE CALLED THE FSS & WAS ADVISED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG & WAS GUSTY. AS HE LANDED ON RWY 6, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, WENT OFF THE RWY, HIT A RWY LIGHT & WAS DAMAGED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:59 pm from GUP
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.