Cessna P210 accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, June 29, 1996
On June 29, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna P210, registered N4766K, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Valle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to use his brakes to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Valle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210 · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N4766K · no longer on the register · serial P21000297
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane touched down left of centerline and rolled for about 2,000 feet. The airplane encountered a crosswind gust of 9 knots. The pilot held the right wing down and when that did not work he added power. The airplane then veered right across the runway onto the shoulder and struck the runway light remote control unit. The airplane continued across the parallel taxiway and into a rocky area. The airplane covered a distance of approximately 4,000 feet on the ground before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane brakes found no evidence of malfunction. The pilot operating handbook states in part, 'When landing in a crosswind, use the minimum flap setting required for the field length. After touchdown, hold a straight course with the steerable nose wheel and occasional braking if necessary.' The pilot also indicated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane.
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: 485 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 418 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-D1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Destination: 40G
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 4,199 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from 40G
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.