Cessna C-T210N accident near Modesto, California, August 4, 1991
On August 4, 1991 at about 4:20 am local time, a Cessna C-T210N, registered N5092Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Modesto, California (Modesto City airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALIGNMENT OVER THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S INATTENTIVE HANDLING OF HIS AIRCRAFT, AND THE DARK, NIGHTTIME CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1991 · about 4:20 am local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · Modesto City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-T210N
- Registration
- N5092Y · registry record · serial 21064067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 28R, THE 18,000 HOUR PILOT DECIDED TO SIDE STEP TO RUNWAY 28L. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE 'DRIFTED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT' AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY'S VASI. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND RUNWAY 28R WAS ILLUMINATED; RUNWAY 28L HAD NO LIGHTS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 18,000 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 4:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,459 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.