Cessna T210 accident near Bishop, California, August 30, 1985
On August 30, 1985 at about 9:02 pm local time, a Cessna T210, registered N2251R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bishop, California (Bishop airport). It was a personal 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 30, 1985 · about 9:02 pm local time
- Place
- Bishop, California · Bishop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N2251R · no longer on the register · serial T210-0401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPTD THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND THAT THE LND GEAR DOWN LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED THE LND GEAR DOORS WERE DAMAGED BY THE SIDE LOADS AND THAT BOTH MAIN LND GEARS WERE EXTENDED BUT NOT LOCKED. THE NOSE GEAR STRUT WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN & LOCKED POSITION. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE WAS NOT DAMAGED WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MAIN LND GEARS TO BE PARTIALLY EXTENDED AND HYD PRESS TENDING TO HOLD WHEELS IN DOWN POSITION. THE NOSE GEAR EXTENDS AND LOCKS BEFORE THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE PLT DELAYED EXTENTION OF THE LND GEAR UNTIL NEAR THE FLARE POSITION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,303 hours in all; 509 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 89 in the last 30 days; 3,752 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: BIH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 7,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from BIH
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.