Cessna T210L accident near Bakersfield, California, July 12, 1988
On July 12, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N60856, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield). 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 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
- July 12, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Bakersfield · map
- 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
- N60856 · no longer on the register · serial 21060599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A RUNWAY LIGHT. INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE SYSTEM. NO LEAKS WERE DISCOVERED DURING THE EXAM OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
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: 1,670 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1987; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F63 Gila Bend AZ at 4:00 pm
- Destination: L45 Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 3,150 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 034° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from BFL
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.
Other NTSB records under N60856 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.