Cessna T210L accident near Upland, California, May 12, 1989
On May 12, 1989 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N5368V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. FACTORS WERE THE PRIVATE PILOT DID NOT SWITCH THE FUEL TANKS AND THE INSTRUCTOR DID NOT CATCH IT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1989 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N5368V · no longer on the register · serial 21060921
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT, THE DUAL STUDENT WAS A PRIVATE PILOT WITH SINGLE AND MULTIENGINE AND INSTRUMENT RATINGS. THIS WAS TO BE A STANDARD CHECKOUT IN THE CESSNA 210 AIRPLANE. AFTER ALMOST AND HOUR OF AIRWORK, INCLUDING THREE LANDINGS TO FULL STOP AT ANOTHER AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN THE HOME TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PRIVATE DUAL STUDENT DID NOT REACT AND APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET WERE LOST BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. AT THAT POINT THE ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY WAS CRITICAL BUT THE INSTRUCTOR MADE THE AIRPORT BUT IMPACTED IN A NOSE-DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED REARWARD AND WAS IMBEDDED WITHIN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND TO BE TURNED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THAT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 20 GALLONS. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, A BEECH 19, N6553R, THAT WAS TIED DOWN AND WAS UNOCCUPIED, WAS STRUCK BY THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 502 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 422 as pilot in command; 45 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,028 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1989; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H4 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cable Air
The flight
- Departed from: CCB at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,785 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.