Cessna T210L accident near Parker Dam, California, June 24, 1989
On June 24, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N1982K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parker Dam, California (Havasu Palms airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN WIND INFORMATION BEFORE LANDING. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Parker Dam, California · Havasu Palms · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1982K · registry record · serial 21060807
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ENTERED A NORMAL LEFT HAND PATTERN FOR A LANDING AT THE DIRT AIRSTRIP, BUT WAS 'CUT OFF BY A ARMY HELICOPTER' THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY FROM BELOW. HE MANEUVERED TO AVOID A COLLISION & SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED A WIDE RIGHT BASE TO THE AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK THE WIND SOCK WHILE IN THE PATTERN. REPORTEDLY, AFTER TOUCH DOWN, A STRONG GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY & IT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL LARGE ROCKS. ALSO, THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE LANDING, 'THE WIND SOCK STOOD STRAIGHT OUT WITH A 90 DEGREE CROSS WIND' AT A SPEED HE ESTIMATED TO BE 18 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KTS.
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: 578 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 526 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,828 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1989; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 91L
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 18 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX89LA226.