Cessna 210 accident near Sylmar, California, August 22, 1985
On August 22, 1985 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9726X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sylmar, California. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- August 22, 1985 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sylmar, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9726X · no longer on the register · serial 21058026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFTS ENGINE EXPERIENCED MECHANICAL TROUBLE AND A FORCED LANDING ON A FREEWAY WAS ATTEMPTED. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A METAL CENTER DIVIDER DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT. THE RESULTS OF AN ENGINE OIL ANALYSIS REVEALED HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF SILICON, IRON, CHROMIUM, ALUMINUM AND COPPER, AND A MODERATE CONCENTRATION OF TIN.
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
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lanscaster CA at 7:00 am
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from VNY
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.