Cessna T210L accident near Fullerton, California, February 16, 1985
On February 16, 1985 at about 8:02 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N732DT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people 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
- February 16, 1985 · about 8:02 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N732DT · no longer on the register · serial 210-61440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & GND WITNESSES RPTD THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AT OR BEYOND MIDFIELD AT AN EXESSEIVE SPEED. THE ACFT CONTINUED THE LANDING ROLL, EXITED THE RWY & ENTERED SOFT DIRT AREA WEST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. UPON ENTERING THE DIRT AREA THE NOSE GEAR SUNK IN THE DIRT & THE ACFT BEGAN TO NOSE OVER. DURING THE NOSE OVER SEQUENCE, THE ACFT STRUCK AN ARPT BOUNDARY FENCE & CAME TO REST INVERTED ON DALE STREET ALONG RWY 24 EXTENDED CENTERLINE. RWY 24 HAS A TWO BAR VASI & ITS LANDING DISTANCE IS 2858 FT. THE ACFT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE FLAPS WERE IN THE APCH POSITION. BOTH MAIN GEAR TIRES EXHIBITED SEVERAL FLAT SPOTS AREAS. BOTH BRAKE DISCS EXHIBITED OVERHEATING SIGNATURES. THE BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATED NORMALLY. TIRE MARKS BEGAN APRX 1000 FT EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & CONTINUED TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE AREA. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE 200 DEGS AT 4 KTS.
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: 1,005 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 995 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1985; 237 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVE
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from FUL
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.
Other NTSB records under N732DT 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.