Cessna T210N accident near Palm Springs, California, March 10, 1983
On March 10, 1983 at about 3:27 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N1766U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Springs, California (Palm Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 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
- March 10, 1983 · about 3:27 am local time
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Palm Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1766U · no longer on the register · serial 21064741
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED RIVERSIDE WITH AN ESTIMATED 28 GALLONS OF FUEL, 23 GALLONS IN THE LEFT TANK AND ABOUT 5 GALS IN THE RIGHT. HE FLEW TO PALM SPRINGS ON THE LEFT TANK AND BEGAN TO LET DOWN FROM 11,500 FEET. AT 7,000 FT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT CALLED PALM SPRINGS ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY AND REPORTED HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. THE ACFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 10,050 hours in all; 321 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Riverside CA at 3:05 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 am from PSP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.