Cessna P210N accident near Altus, Oklahoma, August 13, 1986
On August 13, 1986 at about 10:22 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N731RR, was destroyed in an accident near Altus, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1986 · about 10:22 pm local time
- Place
- Altus, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731RR · registry record · serial P21000538
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE FAILED AT 10,500 FEET MSL AND THE PILOT WAS VECTORED TO A SMALL PRIVATE SOD STRIP. HOWEVER, THIS STRIP HAD BEEN CLOSED AND PLOWED UP FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND WAS NOT LISTED ON THE CURRENT AERONAUTICAL CHARTS. THE PILOT WAS THEN REVECTORED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHICH ORIGINALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN GLIDING DISTANCE FOR THE AIRCRAFT. HOWEVER, BY THIS TIME ALTITUDE WAS INADEQUATE AND THE PLT COULD NOT REACH THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASH LANDED ABOUT SIX MILES SHORT IN A PLOWED FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE CRANK SHAFT HAD FAILED.
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: 803 hours in all; 690 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 710 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 479 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ICT Wichita KS at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MAF Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from LTS, 6 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N731RR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.