Cessna T210M accident near Dillon, Montana, August 22, 1986
On August 22, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N6952M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillon, Montana (Dillon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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 22, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dillon, Montana · Dillon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6952M · no longer on the register · serial 21062003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT SAID HE CALLED UNICOM FOR ARPT ADVISORY AND HEARD OPERATOR SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SIX. HE THOUGHT SHE SAID RWY 6 WAS THE PREFERRED RWY (THERE IS NO RWY 6 AT DILLON ARPT). OPERATOR ACTUALLY SAID RWY 16 WAS THE PREFERRED RWY. PLT LANDED PAST MIDWAY POINT OF RWY 3 (3500 FT, TURF) AND ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. ACFT HIT RWY MARKER, WENT THROUGH FENCE AND OVERTURNED. ARPT DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE 6135 FT. ACFT FLIGHT MANUAL SAYS GROUND ROLL OF 935 FT AND 1550 FT IS REQUIRED FOR LANDING AND TAKEOFF. PLT WAS ALSO FLYING ON EXPIRED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 38 in the last 90 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1986; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,500 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:02 pm from DLN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.