Cessna P210N accident near Pearland, Texas, August 11, 1987
On August 11, 1987 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N731TT, was destroyed in an accident near Pearland, Texas (Clover airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 11, 1987 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pearland, Texas · Clover · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731TT · no longer on the register · serial P21000547
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT MADE A NR HALF CIRCLE OVR THE ARPT & ENTERED A DWNWND FOR RWY 14R. DRG THE ENTRY, HE REDUCED PWR & NOTED 2 OR 3 SPUTTERS FM THE ENG. JUST BFR TURNING TO A BASE LEG, HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE FOR ADNL POWER, BUT THERE WASNO RESPONSE FM THE ENG. HE STARTED TO LND ON A ROAD, BUT A TRUCK TURNED ONTO THE ROADWAY AHEAD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DWN NR THE FAR EDGE OF A SMALL FLD, WENT THRU A FENCE, CROSSED A ROAD, HIT A ROAD SIGN & POLE & BGN BURNING. THEACFT WAS NRLY CONSUMED BY FIRE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN EXCESSIVELY RICH FUEL MIXTURE, JUST BFR THE ACDNT. BLACK SOOTY DEPOSITS WERE FND IN ALL CYLINDERS & ON THE SPARK PLUGS & PISTONS. A HELICOPTER PLT NOTED BLACK SMOKE (OR EXHAUST) FM THE ACFT AS IT WAS CIRCLING TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ALSO, THE PLT BELIEVED THE ENG HAD 'LOADED UP' WHEN HE REDUCEDPWR EARLIER IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ADNLY, THE PLT'S SON HAD FLOWN THE ACFT SVRL HRS & NOTED THE ENG RAN SMOOTHER AT HI RPM. HOWEVER, THE ACFT & ENG WERE TOO BADLY DMGD TO VERIFY A REASON FOR THE RICH MIXTURE. NO OTR PREIMPACT PRBLMS FND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: IWS Houston TX at 5:00 am
- Destination: T02 Friendswood TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14R, 4,307 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from HOU, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.