Cessna T210N accident near Durango, Colorado, September 5, 1990
On September 5, 1990 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5241C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (La Plata CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHEN THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE ON SHORT FINAL TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1990 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · La Plata CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5241C · no longer on the register · serial 21063723
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AFTER RECEIVING A PILOT REPORT OF CALM WINDS. ON SHORT FINAL THE PLANE ENCOUNTERED A MICROBURST THAT ABRUPTLY INCREASED THE RATE OF DESCENT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE HIGH RATE OF DESCENT TO NO AVAIL. THE PLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY, LANDED HARD, COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR, DAMAGED THE WING SPARS, AND CAME TO REST ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER EXITING THE WRECKAGE, THE PILOT SAID THE WIND WAS FROM 080 DEGREES AT 15, GUSTING TO 20. A WITNESS REPORTED THE WIND HAD CHANGED FROM CALM TO STRONG IN A FEW SECONDS, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT LIGHTNING AND VIRGA HAD BEEN SEEN IN THE AREA AND RAIN SHOWERS BEGAN WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 367 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 297 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,016 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 9,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 080° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 am from DRO, 1 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.