Cessna P210N II and Cessna 172E accident near Tucson, Arizona, April 20, 1987
On April 20, 1987 at about 5:07 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna P210N II (N6509P) and Cessna 172E (N3028U), were involved in the same accident near Tucson, Arizona (Tucson airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- April 20, 1987 · about 5:07 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Tucson · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna P210N II · all P210N IIs on the register
- Registration
- N6509P · no longer on the register · serial P21000184
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N3028U · registry record · serial 17250628
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna P210N II final · quoted from the NTSB record
A C-172 COLLIDED WITH A C-210N WHILE TXG. THE C-172 WAS TXG ALONG A 75 FT WIDE PARALLEL TWY AFTER LANDING. THE C-210N WAS TXG FROM A RAMP AREA TO HIS DEP RWY. THE C-210N ROUTE INTERSECTED THE C-172 ROUTE AT THE PARALLEL TWY WHERE THE COLLISION OCCURRED. PLTS OF BOTH ACFT RPRTED FUEL TRUCKS OBSTRUCTING THEIR VIEW, BUT NEITHER ADJUSTED TAXI SPEEDS. THE PLT OF THE C-210N STOPPED HIS ACFT AFTER INTRUDING 17 FT ONTO THE PARALLEL TWY. ACCORDING TO PSN AND TIME DATA DERIVED FROM ATC TRANSCRIPTS THE C-172 TRAVELED 3,300 FT IN 93 SEC EQUATING TO A SPEED GREATER THEN 24 MPH. THE C-172 DID NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP, BUT ACCELERATED AND UNSUCCESSFULLY SWERVED TO AVERT THE COLLISION. THE C-172 WING PASSED OVER THE PROP OF C-210N SEVERING THE WING TIP.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172E final · quoted from the NTSB record
A C-172 COLLIDED WITH A C-210N WHILE TXG. THE C-172 WAS TXG ALONG A 75 FT WIDE PARALLEL TWY AFTER LANDING. THE C-210N WAS TXG FROM A RAMP AREA TO HIS DEP RWY. THE C-210N ROUTE INTERSECTED THE C-172 ROUTE AT THE PARALLEL TWY WHERE THE COLLISION OCCURRED. PLTS OF BOTH ACFT RPRTED FUEL TRUCKS OBSTRUCTING THEIR VIEW, BUT NEITHER ADJUSTED TAXI SPEEDS. THE PLT OF THE C-210N STOPPED HIS ACFT AFTER INTRUDING 17 FT ONTO THE PARALLEL TWY. ACCORDING TO PSN AND TIME DATA DERIVED FROM ATC TRANSCRIPTS THE C-172 TRAVELED 3,300 FT IN 93 SEC EQUATING TO A SPEED GREATER THEN 24 MPH. THE C-172 DID NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP, BUT ACCELERATED AND UNSUCCESSFULLY SWERVED TO AVERT THE COLLISION. THE C-172 WING PASSED OVER THE PROP OF C-210N SEVERING THE WING TIP.
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 for the Cessna P210N II from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,521 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1986; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUS Tucson AZ at 5:06 pm
- Destination: Guaymas
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 11R, 9,129 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from TUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,692 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 201 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,447 as pilot in command; 860 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,911 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 1986; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RYN Tucson AZ at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 12,002 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
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.