Cessna 210-M accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, March 28, 2002
On March 28, 2002 at about 3:28 pm local time, a Cessna 210-M, registered N29795, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buena Vista, Colorado (Central Colorado Reginal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's encounter with adverse weather. A factor was the unexpected downdraft after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2002 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Vista, Colorado · Central Colorado Reginal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210-M · all 210-Ms on the register
- Registration
- N29795 · no longer on the register · serial 21062114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After liftoff the airplane was at about "fifty to one-hundred feet off the ground when it was suddenly knocked to the ground." The pilot attempted to maintain directional control as the airplane impacted the runway "hard." The pilot believed that a he encountered an unexpected downdraft.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: May 20, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,658 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2001; 179 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7V1 Buena Vista CO at 3:28 pm
- Destination: 7V1 Buena Vista CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 8,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from 7V1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.