Cessna T210L accident near Norco, California, December 24, 1988
On December 24, 1988 at about 9:13 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N94210, was destroyed in an accident near Norco, California (Corona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE ENSUING DESCENDING SPIRALING TURN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 1988 · about 9:13 pm local time
- Place
- Norco, California · Corona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N94210 · no longer on the register · serial 51060541
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A TELEPHONIC IFR CLEARANCE FROM CHINO TOWER. THE PILOT DEPARTED CORONA AND CONTACTED THE ONTARIO TRACON DEPARTURE CONTROLLER. THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO RESET HIS TRANSPONDER AND THE PILOT COMPLIED, BUT FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT ONE MINUTE LATER. THE RECORDED RADAR DATA REVEALED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN, REACHING A MAXIMUM ALTITUDE OF 1,500 FT MSL (1,000 FT AGL) WHEN THE PLT INITIALLY CALLED ONTARIO TRACON. AFTER REACHING 1,500 FT THE AIRPLANE'S RATE OF TURN INCREASED AND IT BEGAN DESCENDING RAPIDLY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A 10 DEGREE NOSE LOW, 30 DEGREE RIGHT BANK ATTITUDE. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 1,710 hours in all; 334 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,651 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 8:22 pm
- Destination: RAL Riverside CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.