Cessna T210L accident near Salina, Utah, December 30, 1985
On December 30, 1985 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N27CF, was destroyed in an accident near Salina, Utah. 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
- December 30, 1985 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Salina, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N27CF · registry record · serial 210-61212
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING NOR FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. HE AND HIS WIFE TOOK OFF FROM BULLFROG BASIN AIRPORT, GLEN CANYON, UT, EN ROUTE TO HEBER CITY, UT, ON 12-30-85. ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE. CIVIL AIR PATROL SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED FROM 01-02-86 TO 01-23-86 WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON 08-17-86. EVIDENCE INDICATED AIRFRAME FAILED IN FLIGHT. WINGS FAILED IN POSITIVE OVERLOAD. IMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT MOST OF STATE ON DAY OF ACCIDENT THAT INCLUDED LOW CEILING, VISIBILITY, FOG, SNOW, FREEZING RAIN, AND CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO ICING.
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: 344 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 273 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,508 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U07 Glen Canyon UT at 5:20 pm
- Destination: 36U Heber Valley UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from SLC, 111 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.