Cessna T210M accident near Long Beach, California, May 30, 1988
On May 30, 1988 at about 10:43 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N6178N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Daugherty Field). 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
- May 30, 1988 · about 10:43 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Daugherty Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6178N · no longer on the register · serial 21062949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE QUIT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE EMPENNAGE CAUGHT ON THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THAT ONE TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE OTHER CONTAINED 25 GALLONS. THE PILOT HAD JUST SWITCHED TO THE FULLER TANK WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT.
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: 556 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 455 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,011 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1987; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI0-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U30 Temple Bar AZ at 9:15 pm
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,192 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from LCB
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.