Cessna T210N accident near Gypsum, Colorado, October 3, 1990
On October 3, 1990 at about 2:31 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6477N, was destroyed in an accident near Gypsum, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FLYING INTO KNOWN ADVERSE ICING AND THUNDERSTORM WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 1990 · about 2:31 am local time
- Place
- Gypsum, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6477N · no longer on the register · serial 21063051
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO FILING AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. THUNDERSTORMS AND ICING CONDITIONS PREVAILED ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE. DURING THE FLIGHT ICE FORMED ON HIS AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF GYPSUM, COLORADO. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. IT ENTERED INTO A SPIN WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL GROUND IMPACT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,215 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 1,112 as pilot in command; 726 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Denver Air Center, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SGU St. George UT
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from EGE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.