Cessna P210N accident near Santa Barbara, California, April 8, 1985
On April 8, 1985 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N6099P, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Barbara, California (Santa Barbara Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 8, 1985 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Barbara, California · Santa Barbara Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6099P · registry record · serial P21000143
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE TO DEPART THE CONTROL ZONE TO THE NORTHEAST THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOOK OFF ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING OVER THE WATER UNDER LOW CEILINGS AND IN LOW VISIBILITY. A CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE ACFT START A RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF THEN ROLL LEFT INTO A LEFT TURN. ANOTHER CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE ACFT'S RADAR TARGET CLIMB TO 600 FT THEN DESCEND TO 500 FT BEFORE DISAPPEARING OFF THE SCOPE APRX 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE ARPT. TWO GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT IMPACT THE WATER AFTER DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLOUDS.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 10:38 pm
- Destination: 097 Richvale CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15L, 4,179 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from SBA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.