Cessna T210N accident near Fullerton, California, November 27, 1987
On November 27, 1987 at about 1:28 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N7627N, was destroyed in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people 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
- November 27, 1987 · about 1:28 am local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N7627N · registry record · serial 21063246
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPR TO RUNWAY 24 AT FULLERTON ARPT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE AIRPLANE'S ALT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY & THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN AREA ADJACENT TO THE ARPT. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A BUILDING AND SEPARATED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY & ITS RESERVOIR CONTAINED LESS THAT A 1/4 CUP OF FUEL. THE RIGHT WING FUEL SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED. THE LEFT WING TANK CONTAINED ABT 15 GALLONS OF FUEL AND ITS RESERVOIR TANK WAS FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND SELECTED TO THE RIGHT TANK. THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP & THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT REMAINED INTACT AND DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,098 hours in all; 628 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 920 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,413 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 30, 1989; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNS Salinas CA
- Destination: FUL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:32 am from FUL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.