Cessna P210N accident near Coalinga, California, August 22, 1986
On August 22, 1986 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4831A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Coalinga Muni airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 22, 1986 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Coalinga Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4831A · registry record · serial P21000824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT BACK TO THE AIRCRAFT'S HOME BASE AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN ON DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE DEPARTED WITHOUT VISUALLY CHECKING THE FUEL TANK LEVEL. THE PILOT SAID THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED ONE HALF TANKS AND HE 'THOUGHT THE QUANTITY WAS SUFFICIENT TO COMPLETE THE RETURN FLIGHT.' ENROUTE, THE PILOT BECAME CONCERNED WITH THE FUEL STATE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DIVERTED TO THE COALINGA AIRPORT. ON FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP IN A PLOWED FIELD ABOUT 1 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. INSPECTION FOUND THE FUEL SYSTEM INTACT AND A TOTAL OF BOUT 3 PINTS OF FUEL IN ALL OF THE FUEL TANKS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,676 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 299 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,511 as pilot in command; 1,056 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 443 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 8, 1986; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-AF (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Air Of Hayward
The flight
- Departed from: ONT Ontario CA at 1:15 am
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from NLC, 22 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 N4831A 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.