Cessna T210N accident near Seboyeta, New Mexico, May 27, 1988
On May 27, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5536A, was destroyed in an accident near Seboyeta, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- May 27, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Seboyeta, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5536A · registry record · serial 21063487
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED EL PASO, TX, AND FLEW TO DOUGLAS, AZ, WHERE THREE PAX BOARDED. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO A RANCH NEAR SEBOYETA, NM, AND LANDED ON A DIRT ROAD. AFTER CONDUCTING BUSINESS, THE PLT AND HIS PAX TOOK OFF FOR PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO. AS THE ACFT TURNED ON A X-WIND LEG, THE ENG QUIT. WHEN THE PLT LEVELED THE WINGS, THE ENG STARTED, THEN QUIT AGAIN. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID AN ARROYO. THE ACFT STALLED AND CRASHED. THE PLT WAS KILLED BUT THE 3 PAX SURVIVED. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED TRAPPED FUEL BETWEEN THE FUEL CONTROLLER AND FUEL MANIFOLD. APRX ONE-HALF TANK OF FUEL WAS IN LEFT TANK. RT TANK WAS EMPTY. PLT WAS SEEN TO TURN FUEL SELECTOR FROM LEFT TANK TO RIGHT TANK. ALL FUEL LINES WERE SEVERED. THE ENG WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND DEVELOPED FULL PWR.
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
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 75 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,952 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 1988; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R9 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: El Slash Cattle CO., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 2V1 Pagosa Springs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ABQ, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.