Cessna 210 accident near Thermal, California, July 27, 1989
On July 27, 1989 at about 11:11 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N76RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thermal, California (Thermal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A TWISTED NOSE GEAR UPLOCK DUE TO AN ELONGATED BOLT HOLE WHICH PREVENTED THE NOSE GEAR FROM EXTENDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1989 · about 11:11 pm local time
- Place
- Thermal, California · Thermal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N76RR · registry record · serial 57057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 210 DEPARTED THERMAL, CA FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT TO FUNCTIONALLY CHECK THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM DUE TO A PREVIOUS PROBLEM. THE GEAR RETRACTED NORMALLY HOWEVER THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND WHEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS LOWERED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS THE PILOT MADE A SOFT FIELD LANDING WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR FOUND THAT THE UPLOCK HAD TWISTED IN PLACE FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION DUE TO AN ELONGATED BOLT HOLE FROM PREVIOUS MAINTENANCE.
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: 683 hours in all; 583 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,134 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.