Cessna 210 accident near Rialto, California, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 10:37 am local time, a Cessna 210, registered N6558X, was destroyed in an accident near Rialto, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO THE USE OF DRUGS WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 10:37 am local time
- Place
- Rialto, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N6558X · no longer on the register · serial 57558
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED THEIR HOME BASE AT 0200 HOURS IN THE MORNING FOR AN HOUR-PLUS FLIGHT TO MEET A FRIEND AT A NON-CONTROLLED AIRPORT. A NEARBY CONTROLLED AIRPORT ATIS WAS REPORTING AN 800 FOOT OVERCAST WITH 2 MILES IN FOG. RADAR DATA INDICATES THE PILOT CIRCLED THE INTENDED AIRPORT AT ABOUT 0330 HOURS WHILE DESCENDING. LOCAL AREA RESIDENTS AND POLICE STATED THE VISIBILITY WAS OBSCURED IN DENSE FOG WITH OCCASIONAL BREAKS. THE PILOT DESCENDED INTO SEMI-LEVEL TERRAIN ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF THE INTENDED DESTINATION AIRPORT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSTS REVEALED 2.1 MG/KG OF METHAMPHETAMINE IN THE PILOT'S LIVER. DRUG PARAPHERNALIA WAS LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PASSENGER ALSO HAD METHAMPHETAMINE IN HIS BLOOD.
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: 665 hours in all; 329 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 613 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 9:26 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 8:47 am from ONT, 11 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.