Cessna T210M accident near Coalinga, California, February 16, 1993
On February 16, 1993 at about 2:55 am local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N761NE, was destroyed in an accident near Coalinga, California. 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
THE PILOTS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND HIS FAILURE TO SELECT A CRUISE ALTITUDE WHICH WOULD ENSURE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE MOUNTAINOUS NATURE OF THE TERRAIN AND THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 1993 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761NE · no longer on the register · serial 21062380
- 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 THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA FOR AN EVENING FLIGHT TO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. HE CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL FOR ENTRY INTO THE LOS ANGELES TCA AND THROUGH THE VFR CORRIDOR OVER LAX. THE PILOT THEN CLIMBED OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN TO 10500 FEET MSL, AND INTERCEPTED THE V 107 AIRWAY. AFTER PASSING THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE PILOT DESCENDED TO 4500 FEET MSL, ON V 107. ACCORDING TO THE JEPPESEN LOW ALTITUDE ENROUTE CHARTS THREE AND FOUR, THE MINIMUM ENROUTE ALTITUDE FOR THAT SEGMENT OF THE AIRWAY IS 7000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO THE SAN FRANCISCO SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHART THE MAXIMUM ELEVATION FIGURE (MEF), FOR THE ACCIDENT AREA IS 5600 FEET MSL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED 4500 FOOT WRIGHT MOUNTAIN ABOUT 80 FEET BELOW A RIDGE LINE IN LEVEL FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE RADAR DATA THE AIRPLANE GROUND SPEED WAS ABOUT 160 KNOTS WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST ABOUT TWO AND ONE HALF MILES WEST OF V 107. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VMC, HOWEVER, THE NIGHT WAS DARK. THE PILOT WAS FLYING WITH AN INVALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
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: 2,888 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 1:30 am
- Destination: 051 Lincoln CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from NLC, 30 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.