Cessna T210N accident near Larkspur, Colorado, March 31, 1992
On March 31, 1992 at about 9:17 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N212CS, was destroyed in an accident near Larkspur, Colorado. 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE DUE TO HIS REDUCED FORWARD VISIBILITY. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, HIS FAILURE TO PROCEED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDING SNOW, FOG, AND OBSCURATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1992 · about 9:17 pm local time
- Place
- Larkspur, Colorado · map
- 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
- N212CS · no longer on the register · serial 21063203
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED SANTA ANA, CA, AT 0816 PST, ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO TUCUMCARI, NM. EN ROUTE, THE PILOT CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO DENVER, CO. AT 1416 MST, WHILE BEING RADAR VECTORED TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER COURSE TO CENTENNIAL AIRPORT'S RUNWAY 35R, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. A SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID HE HEARD SOMEONE SAY THEY WERE OUT OF GAS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ATOP A SNOW COVERED MESA. THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN BUT THE FLAPS WERE UP WHEN THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN. AN ESTIMATED ONE CUP OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL TANKS, AND ABOUT TWO TABLESPOONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND GASCOLATOR.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 575 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 514 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-HCMC (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Electrosolve Services
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 4:17 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from APA, 25 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.