Cessna T210L accident near El Cajon, California, February 8, 1987
On February 8, 1987 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N5275V, was involved in an accident near El Cajon, California (Gillespie airport). It was a personal 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
- February 8, 1987 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N5275V · registry record · serial 210 60890
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE AND HIS WIFE WERE PLANNING TO FLY TOGETHER, BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE HIS WIFE CHANGED HER MIND. SHE EXITED THE ACFT AND DEPARTED THE AREA TO THE REAR OF THE PLANE. THE PLT WAS TAXIING FROM HIS PARKING SPOT WHEN HIS WIFE SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ACFT. HE STOPPED THE ACFT, BUT HIS WIFE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WALKED INTO THE ACFT'S PROPELLER. THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY SEVERING THE RIGHT ARM, LACERATING HERRIGHT CHEST CAVITY, AND LACERATING THE INNER PORTION OF THE RIGHT THIGH. A EMS HELICOPTER LOCATED AT THE ARPT WAS CALLEDAND ARRIVED 7 MIN LATER. THE MEDICAL CREWMEMBERS ADMINISTERED ADDITIONAL FIRST AID AND APPLIED A TOURNIQUET. THE VICTIM WAS EVACUATED 20 MIN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT LATER INDICATED THAT HIS WIFE WAS RETURNING TO THE ACFT TO GET HER PURSE.
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: 290 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,227 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 77 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from SEE
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.