Cessna 210 accident near Chino Valley, Arizona, August 11, 1991
On August 11, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9542T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino Valley, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SLIPPERY CONDITION OF THE ROAD SURFACE BEING USED AS A RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chino Valley, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9542T · registry record · serial 57342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO AN ULTIMATE DESTINATION IN CALIFORNIA WITH A PLANNED FUEL STOP AT BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA. IN THE WEST CENTRAL AREA OF ARIZONA, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS AND RAIN SHOWERS AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO REVERSE COURSE AND HEAD FOR SEDONA, ARIZONA. WHILE ENROUTE TO THE DIVERSIONARY AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED MORE WEATHER WHICH OBSCURED THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAIN TOPS AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD NEAR CHINO VALLEY TO WAIT OUT THE FAST MOVING WEATHER CONDITIONS. AFTER THE STORM PASSED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE DIRT ROAD. DURING THE TAKEOFFF GROUND ROLL, THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE SLIPPERY MUD ROAD SURFACE AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A GROUP OF ROCKS.
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: 157 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 123 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no 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 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.