Cessna T210L accident near Buena Park, California, December 17, 1988
On December 17, 1988 at about 8:03 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N4675Q, was destroyed in an accident near Buena Park, California (Fullerton Muni airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT IN BEGINNING THE FLIGHT WITH INADEQUATE FUEL; HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL V.F.R. PROCEDURES; AND HIS POOR PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1988 · about 8:03 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Park, California · Fullerton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4675Q · no longer on the register · serial 21059575
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT FROM RIVERSIDE WHERE MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED. ABOUT 20 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FLT ENTERED THE NORTH DOWNWIND FOR RWY 6 AT FULLERTON MUNI ARPT. AT ABOUT THE TIME THE ACFT WAS TURNING ON A BASE LEG TO LAND, THE PLT RPRTD A LOSS OF ENG POWER. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT THE ACFT SEEMED TO BE IN A GLIDE FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. HOWEVER, WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 100' TO 150' ABOVE SOME WAREHOUSE BLDGS, IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED ON THE ROOF OF A WAREHOUSE. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, LESS THAN 3 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS & NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS NOTED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OF MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 315 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,178 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1988; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIR Riverside CA at 8:43 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from FUL, 1 miles away
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.