Cessna T210M accident near Tracy, California, June 30, 1987
On June 30, 1987 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 30, 1987 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761JM · registry record · serial 62294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT INDICATED THAT THE ENG FAILED AT 3,500 FT MSL. THE PLT HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 30 MIN WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE INITIALLY SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG SEVERAL MORE TIMES ALTERNATING THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY ADN THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED FUEL. FURTHER EXAM OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE ESTIMATED THE FUEL QUANTITY BASED ON PREVIOUS ACFT USE AND EXAM OF THE FUEL QUANTITY GUAGES.
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: 1,800 hours in all; 755 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,665 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SCK, 15 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.