Cessna T210N accident near Tucson, Arizona, January 2, 1986
On January 2, 1986 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6594Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- January 2, 1986 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6594Y · no longer on the register · serial 21064448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PLANNED TO FLY NONSTOP FM HOUSTON, TX, TO PHOENIX, AZ. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE TRIP HE ENCOUNTERED 'FLUCTUATING HEAD WINDS' & HE MISCALCULATED THE ACFT'S ENDURANCE. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED 8 MILES FM TUCSON, AZ., & THE PLT MADE A SUCCESSFUL NIGHTIME FORCED LDG ON INTERSTATE HWY 10. AFTER REFUELING & WITH THE AID OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE PLT & HIS PASSENGER TOOK OFF FROM THE HWY. AFTER ACCELERATING TO BETWEEN 40 & 50 KNOTS, THE ACFT DRIFTED FROM THE CENTER OF THE HWY & ITS WING COLLIDED WITH A NEARBY MESQUITE TREE. THE ACFT REMAINED AIRBORNE, & THE PLT CONTINUED FLYING TO HIS DESTINATION. WHERE HE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: 720 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 508 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,163 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 4, 1985; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Channel Island Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Tucson AZ
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.