Cessna 210L accident near Modesto, California, February 18, 1990
On February 18, 1990 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered CGICH, was destroyed in an accident near Modesto, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1990 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- CGICH · no longer on the register · serial 21060016
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES AND HAD REACHED A POINT 260 NAUTICAL MILES ALONG HIS VISUAL FLIGHT ROUTE. HE REPORTED HIS LOCATION AS NORTH OF THE MODESTO, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT ON HIS INITIAL RADIO CONTACT FOR LANDING. THE PILOT THEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A RESIDENTIAL YARD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE IMPACTING A GARAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY POST-CRASH FIRE AND THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL BURNS. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED ABOUT 19 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. A POST-CRASH OPERATIONAL TEST OF THE ENGINE DID NOT PRODUCE ANY EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: 4,000 hours in all; 44 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: YYC Calgary
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:25 pm from MOD
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.