Cessna T210N accident near Glendale, Arizona, January 30, 2005
On January 30, 2005 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N1164U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glendale, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane was struck by lightning during the approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2005 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Glendale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1164U · no longer on the register · serial 21064670
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was struck by lightning while on radar vectors for an approach in intermittent instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot received a preflight weather briefing that advised generally clear conditions en route with widely scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms near the destination. As the pilot complied with the vector instructions and proceeded toward the destination airport, the airplane's propeller was struck by lightning. The lightning traveled through the airplane's structure to the left wing, fragmenting the rib structure and separating part of the left wing tip. The pilot was able to communicate with ATC on a backup communication radio and declare an emergency. The flight diverted to a nearby airport and landed without further incident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the lightning strike.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 300 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.