Cessna P210N accident near Oakland, California, May 1, 1993
On May 1, 1993, a Cessna P210N, registered N731HP, was destroyed in an accident near Oakland, California (Oakland Intl Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor decision to continue flying the airplane with a known deficiency and the poorly performed major overhaul of the engine. The failed crankshaft due to fatigue are factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1993
- Place
- Oakland, California · Oakland Intl Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731HP · no longer on the register · serial P21000463
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING A LOCAL AIRPORT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN A RESIDENTIAL SECTION. THE PILOT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE THE PRE-BUY INSPECTION AT A MIDWEST FACILITY, THE OIL FILTER CHECK AND THE OIL ANALYSIS REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF METAL PARTICLES. THE BROKER ADVISED THE PILOT NOT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED OR EXCHANGED. THE PILOT SETTLED FOR A PRICE REDUCTION, PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE, AND RETURNED IT TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE AND ACCRUED 22.9 HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED IN FATIGUE AT THE NO. 2 JOURNAL WHERE IT EXITS THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FATIGUE INITIATED DUE TO IMPROPER TORQUE OF THE THRU-BOLTS. THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE HAD ACCRUED 937.4 TOTAL HOURS. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED DUE TO A PROPELLER STRIKE WHEN IT HAD ACCRUED 522.5 HOURS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,673 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1992; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from OAK, 2 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N731HP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.