Cessna 210D accident near N. South Lake T, California, April 17, 1982
On April 17, 1982 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210D, registered N3972Y, was destroyed in an accident near N. South Lake T, California. 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 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
- April 17, 1982 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- N. South Lake T, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210D · all 210Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3972Y · no longer on the register · serial 58472
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL CLIMB TO ABOUT 8500 FT. HE THEN NOTICED INDICATIONS OF HIGHER THAN NORMAL EGT AND FUEL PRESSURE AND A LOWER THAN NORMAL FUEL FLOW. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LEVELED OFF AND THROTTLED BACK WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. HE NOTICED A SLIGHT RPM LOSS WITH THE SAME FUEL PRESSURE AND FLOW READINGS. HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT. WHILE RETURNING, THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL LOSS OF POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DITCHED IN LAKE TAHOE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EGRESSED THROUGH A SIDE WINDOW AND SWAM TO SHORE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE LAKE. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED, AND AFTER MINOR REPAIRS, IT OPERATED NORMALLY USING THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP COULD NOT BE TESTED DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE. THE MAGNETOS TESTED SATISFACTORILY. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE TOO RUSTY TO CHECK; THEREFORE, OTHER PLUGS WERE USED FOR THE ENGINE RUN.
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: 800 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,507 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 115 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N. South Lake T CA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Colusa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 135°F (57°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.