Cessna P210N accident near Long Beach, California, May 3, 1986
On May 3, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N55MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- May 3, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N55MM · registry record · serial 00266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE FROM CINCINNATI, OH (LUK), TO TORRANCE, CA, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF LONG BEACH AIRPORT (LGB), LONG BEACH, CA. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT LGB BUT THE ACFT ALT WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE ACFT CRASHED ON A GOLF COURSE LOCATED ABT 1/4 MILE EAST OF THE ARPT. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLSD THE NO. 2 PISTON HAD MELTED DUE TO EXTREME HIGH TEMP DISTRESS AND THE CON ROD FRACTURED IN OVERLOAD. THE ENGINE WAS INSTALLED AT LUK ON MAY 2, 1986 AND HAD ACCUM 125 FLT HRS. METALLURGICAL EXAM DISCLSD MISALIGNMENT OF THE CON ROD AND PISTON/CYLINDER BARREL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 3,600 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 4,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,633 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1986; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E69 Payson AZ
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from LGB, 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.
Other NTSB records under N55MM 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.