Cessna P210R accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, December 5, 1985
On December 5, 1985 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna P210R, registered N5298A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 5, 1985 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210R · all P210Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5298A · no longer on the register · serial P21000846
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DESCENDING FROM 9,500 TO 5,000 FT MSL, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG & MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT A NEARBY ARPT. THE PLT, WHO HAD ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR THE 8,251 FOOT LONG RWY, MISJUDGED HIS APPROACH, LANDED DIAGONALLY TO THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH A DITCH & NOSED OVER. THE ACFT WAS TESTED FOLLOWING ITS RECOVERY AND ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE NON-MECHANICAL COMPLETE PWR LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BFR & HAD A TOTAL OF 13.2 HOURS IN THIS AIRCRAFT, WHICH HE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED.
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
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 237 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-CE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E69 Payson AZ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,251 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from SDL
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.