Cessna T210M accident near Colusa, California, November 14, 1987
On November 14, 1987 at about 4:03 am local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761MX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colusa, California (Colusa County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 14, 1987 · about 4:03 am local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · Colusa County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761MX · no longer on the register · serial 21062374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH AT THE DESTINATION BECAUSE OF FOG AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO COLUSA DUE TO THE WEATHER AND ON APPROACH TO CALUSA THE ENGINE QUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS. THE PILOT STATED EVEN THOUGH HIS FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY, BY HIS CALCULATIONS, SUFFICIENT FUEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 466 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 309 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,294 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1987; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Liberty Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: WLW Willows CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.