Cessna 210L accident near Payson, Arizona, September 16, 1994
On September 16, 1994 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N210LX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson airport). It was a business 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
ANIMALS ON THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1994 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N210LX · registry record · serial 21059720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THREE ELK WERE ON THE RUNWAY AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN DURING THE NIGHT LANDING. TWO OF THE ELK RAN OFF THE RUNWAY; HOWEVER, THE THIRD WENT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ANIMAL UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AND KILLED THE ANIMAL. THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPORT HAS A FENCE AROUND THE PROPERTY PERIMETER; HOWEVER, THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY PORTION IS ONLY 5 FEET TALL AND ELK HAVE BEEN OBSERVED LEAPING OVER THE FENCE.
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: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dairy Queen Of S. Arizona, INC
The flight
- Departed from: DGL Douglas AZ at 1:00 am
- Destination: E69 AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,504 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°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.