Cessna T210N accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, November 30, 1996
On November 30, 1996 at about 4:34 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N4788C, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
detonation/pre-ignition for unknown reason(s), which resulted in failure of the number two piston, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing on rough/uneven desert terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 1996 · about 4:34 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4788C · no longer on the register · serial 21063625
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the airplane was climbing after departure, the engine lost power, then the pilot made a forced landing, and the airplane was damaged. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the piston in the #2 cylinder had failed. The #2 piston crown was severely eroded over 80 percent of the piston circumference. Erosion, scoring, and metal transfer was evident on the piston skirts. Before removal of the #2 cylinder, heat discoloration was noted on the cylinder base. A report from the engine manufacturer stated that the failure was due to detonation/preignition. The entire fuel system, both magnetos, and the turbo controller were functionally tested at the respective manufacturer's facilities. All of the components met the FAA approved test data.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 35 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,374 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1995; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Scottsdale Flyers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SDL AZ at 4:29 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 am from SDL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.