Cessna P210N accident near La Verne, California, March 30, 1990
On March 30, 1990 at about 9:13 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N732CG, was destroyed in an accident near La Verne, California (Brackett airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF POWEROLANT CONTROLS WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE RICH MIXTURE AND POWER LOSS. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1990 · about 9:13 pm local time
- Place
- La Verne, California · Brackett · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N732CG · no longer on the register · serial P21000574
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ON A STEEP FAST FINAL APPROACH. THE PILOT ANNOUNCED HE WAS GOING AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND BLACK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A POWER REDUCTION WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. DURING A MANEUVER INTO AN OPEN FIELD THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 50 FT AGL. EXAMINATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS EXHIBITED CARBON SOOTING INDICATIVE OF A RICH MIXTURE. THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE WERE FOUND IN THE FULL OPEN AND FULL RICH POSITION. THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK NOTES USE OF THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP WITH THE THROTTLE FULL OPEN AND THE MIXTURE NOT LEANED WILL RESULT IN AN ENRICHED MIXTURE.
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: 751 hours in all; 363 in this make and model; 626 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1989; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 4,839 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:14 pm from POC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.