Cessna T210 L accident near Williams, Arizona, November 20, 2002
On November 20, 2002 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna T210 L, registered N59132, was destroyed in an accident near Williams, Arizona. It was a positioning 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
An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2002 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 L · all T210 Ls on the register
- Registration
- N59132 · no longer on the register · serial 21060112
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the flight, the pilot and passenger smelled smoke. They opened vents and windows in the airplane and the pilot turned off the master switch. The smoke continued to increase. The pilot reduced power and began to descend for an emergency landing. The pilot was unable to extend the landing gear. The pilot executed a gear up emergency landing in a field with near zero visibility. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. After the pilot and passenger exited, the airplane was consumed by fire. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane, but was unable to determine the origin of the fire due to the extensive fire damage.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,868 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Chelton Flight Systems
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 10:50 pm
- Destination: SGU St George UT
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from FLG, 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.