Cessna T210M accident near Rangely, Colorado, September 4, 1989
On September 4, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rangely, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AS A RESULT OF AN ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rangely, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761RP · no longer on the register · serial 21062460
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN, FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE. HE ELECTED TO LAND WHEELS UP DUE TO THE TERRAIN. THE PLANE STRUCK BRUSH AND CAME TO REST AFTER SLIDING 200 FEET. THE LEFT WING TIP, ENGINE COWLING AND RIGHT WING WERE DAMAGED. POSTACCIDENT ENGINE TEAR DOWN AND ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT A FATIGUE CRACK HAD PROPAGATED FROM A SUBSURFACE FLAW. THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN BETWEEN THE NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE MAIN BEARING JOURNALS AND RESULTED IN COMPLETE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 812 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,536 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1989; 47 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: 2UC Gunnison CO
- Destination: JAC Jackson WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N761RP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.