Cessna T210 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, April 11, 1989
On April 11, 1989 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna T210, registered N5523C, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE GROUND RUN AND ABRUPT ROTATION TO GET AIRBORNE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1989 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N5523C · no longer on the register · serial 21063779
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO AN FAA WITNESS, THE PILOT DID NOT EXECUTE AN ENGINE RUNUP OR A PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE OSCILLATED TO THE RT AND LEFT OF CENTERLINE. THESE OSCILLATIONS INCREASED IN AMPLITUDE TO A POINT 1,500 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, ONTO ITS RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AND NOSE WHEEL. AT THIS POINT, IT ABRUPTLY ROTATED TO A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THE TAIL STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE TO 10 FTAGL. THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE RIGHT, STRUCK THE RIGHT WINGTIP ON THE RUNWAY, AND CARTWHEELED OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DRAINAGE DITCH AND FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WERE WITHIN LIMITS. THE ELEVATOR TRIM CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE FULL NOSE UP POSITION.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SDL
- Destination: Manzanillo
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,251 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:46 pm from SDL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.