Cessna T210N accident near Phoenix, Arizona, March 21, 1986
On March 21, 1986 at about 6:49 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5256A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Sky Harbor 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
- March 21, 1986 · about 6:49 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Sky Harbor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5256A · no longer on the register · serial 210-63330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING INSTRUMENT APPROACHES AND REPORTED TO THE CONTROL TOWER THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. DURING THE ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES AND CRASHED INVERTED IN A RIVER BED TWO MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL AND THAT THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 283 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 207 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 8R, 11,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:04 pm from PHX, 2 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.
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.