Cessna 210L accident near Ocotillo Wells, California, January 28, 1983
On January 28, 1983 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N210DK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocotillo Wells, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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 28, 1983 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ocotillo Wells, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N210DK · no longer on the register · serial 21059791
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON A NIGHT SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT TANK AND THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE PILOT SWITCHED TANKS BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE DESERT IN A SKID WITH LEFT WING LOW. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION SHOWED NO FUEL IN LEFT TANK AND ABOUT 2 INCHES OF FUEL IN RIGHT TANK.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,800 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 8,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 1982; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Escondido CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from IPL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N210DK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.