Cessna T210N accident near Douglas, Arizona, December 22, 1990
On December 22, 1990 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered XBBCR, was destroyed in an accident near Douglas, Arizona. 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
AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO THE PILOT'S PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT FROM THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INOPERATIVE VACUUM SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1990 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Douglas, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- XBBCR · no longer on the register · serial 63503
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED ON SEMI-LEVEL, TYPICAL SONORA DESERT TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A RIGHT ANGLE 90 DEG TO THE SURFACE. THE PROPELLER INDICATED POWER AND ROTATION AT IMPACT. THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATORES DETERMINED THE TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE LAST SEEN LEAVING A LOCAL DOUGLAS BOWLING ALLEY AT APRX MIDNIGHT, INTOXICATED, GOING TO AND STAYING AT A BAR UNTIL 0100. THE PILOT'S MUSCLE ETHANOL CONCENTRATION WAS 210 MG/DL. THE AIRPLANE'S VACUUM PUMP HAD BEEN INOPERATIVE FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS.
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: 271 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DUG Douglas AZ at 1:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Observation at 12:54 pm from DUG, 4 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.