Cessna T210L accident near Merced, California, June 15, 1987
On June 15, 1987 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N59104, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merced, California (Merced airport). It was an instructional 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
- June 15, 1987 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Merced, California · Merced
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N59104 · no longer on the register · serial 21060092
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT APRX 4 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING APRX 3 MILES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT APRX 8 OUNCES OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,373 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 15,031 as pilot in command; 9,093 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,299 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1986; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jericon Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SLE Salem OR at 12:30 pm
- Destination: MCE Merced CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 5,903 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 40,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from MCE, 2 miles away
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.