Cessna 210B accident near Aspen, Colorado, August 1, 1991
On August 1, 1991 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Cessna 210B, registered N9711X, was destroyed in an accident near Aspen, Colorado (Aspen-Pitkin C. Sardy Fie airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PILOT INDUCED INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASCERTAIN THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED IN A TIMELY MANNER, A LOW (FLUID) LEVEL IN HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR, CAUSING THE HYDRAULIC PUMP TO FLUCTUATE (CAVITATE), AND THE PILOT'S ATTENTION BEING DIVERTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1991 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Aspen-Pitkin C. Sardy Fie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210B · all 210Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9711X · no longer on the register · serial 21058011
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DID NOT GET A LANDING GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATION AFTER BEING CLEARED TO LAND. DURING THE GO AROUND, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN TO AVOID BUILDINGS AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED INVERTED INTO A TREE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE. FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF
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: 602 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470S-1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLF Milford UT at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 7,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.