Cessna P210N accident near Napa, California, January 9, 1982
On January 9, 1982 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N731NZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Napa, California (Napa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- January 9, 1982 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Napa, California · Napa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731NZ · registry record · serial 00517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING HIS APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER AIRCRAFT TAXIING NEAR THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT HIS LANDING PROCEDURE WAS INTERRUPTED AS HE WAS WAITING FOR ONE OF THE PLANES TO STOP SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. ALSO, HE REPORTED ABORTING HIS LANDING WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED INSUFFICIENT BRAKING. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE PLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO MUDDY TERRAIN. THE PILOT CUT THE POWER AND THE PLANE SKIDDED TO A STOP IN A WATER AND MUD FILLED DEPRESSION. THE BRAKE PADS HAD BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED, BUT NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE REPORTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 260 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,812 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sacramento CA at 11:50 am
- Destination: Columbus MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.