Cessna 210 accident near San Diego, California, November 2, 1991
On November 2, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N59157, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON(S). A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN TO LAND THE AIRPLANE, WITHOUT INCURRING DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N59157 · no longer on the register · serial 21060129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE REDUCING POWER DURING A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A POWER OFF, GEAR UP FORCED LANDING IN A CONGESTED AREA. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT THOUGHT THE ENGINE MAY HAVE HAD A VAPOR LOCK. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND ABOUT 8 GALLONS OF NON-CONTAMINATED FUEL IN EACH FUEL TANK. THEY ALSO PERFORMED AN OPERATIONAL CHECK ON THE ENGINE AND OPERATED THE ENGINE THROUGHOUT NORMAL OPERATIONAL LIMITS WITH NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED. AIRCRAFT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. ALL AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES, INCLUDING THOSE PERTAINING TO VAPOR LOCK, WERE NOTED AS BEING COMPLIED WITH. NO CAUSE FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS FOUND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 653 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 653 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,601 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: San Diego Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 8:50 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from MYF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.