Cessna T210N accident near Hyder, Arizona, December 29, 1985
On December 29, 1985 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N4592Y, was destroyed in an accident near Hyder, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- December 29, 1985 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hyder, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4592Y · no longer on the register · serial 21063957
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT DEPART THE RANCH AIRSTRIP, LEVEL OFF AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL & MAKE A TURN BACK OVER THE RANCH HOUSE. THE ACFT OCCUPANTS WERE SEEN TO WAVE TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AS THE ACFT BEGAN AN ABRUPT CLIMBING TURN. THE WITNESSES THEN SAW THE ACFT FALL OFF AND IMPACT ON THE RIGHT WING TIP IN A FIELD. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1985; 253 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from YUM, 65 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.