Cessna T210K accident near Del Norte, Colorado, July 4, 1998
On July 4, 1998 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Cessna T210K, registered N8132G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Del Norte, Colorado (Del Norte Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper touchdown point for landing. Factors were the high density altitude, the downhill sloping runway, and the ditch off the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1998 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Del Norte, Colorado · Del Norte Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210K · all T210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N8132G · no longer on the register · serial 21059432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, she circled the field to 'lose altitude and evaluate the weather at the field.' She stated that 'indicators on the field showed the wind to [be] calm,' and she 'flew a standard left traffic pattern for runway 8.' The pilot stated that she 'flew the normal indicated airspeed, however, at the high altitude (approximately 8,000 feet msl), the ground speed was higher.' She further stated that the 'last 200 to 300 feet of runway 8 sloped markedly downhill.' The airplane overran the runway, crossed a gravel road, and impacted a ditch. The Investigator-In-Charge computed the density altitude to be 10,032 feet at the time of the accident and the owner's manual for the airplane indicated that the airplane was capable of stopping in a distance of approximately 980 feet. Witnesses reported to the IIC that there were no obstructions to the approach end of runway 08 and that the accident airplane was observed to touch down 'half way down the runway' for its full stop landing.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,786 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 1,756 as pilot in command; 359 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,593 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1998; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K7E7 Camp Verde AZ at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 8V1 Del Norte CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,775 ft by 49 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from ALS, 27 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.