Cessna T210F accident near West Palm Bch, Florida, November 22, 1986
On November 22, 1986 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Cessna T210F, registered N6194R, was destroyed in an accident near West Palm Bch, Florida (West Palm Beach Int'L airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1986 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Bch, Florida · West Palm Beach Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210F · all T210Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6194R · no longer on the register · serial T210-0094
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG WAS REPORTED TO BE SPUTTERING DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PLT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND AFTER LIFTOFF DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. AS THE ACFT TURNED TO A DOWNWIND POSITION AT A LOW ALT WITH THE ENG STILL SPUTTERING IT STRUCK A TREE AND A BUILDING AT WHICH TIME A FIRE ERRUPTED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED BOTH FUEL CAPS TO HAVE DETERIORATED SEALS AND EVIDENCE OF THEM HAVING LEAKED WATER INTO THE FILLER NECKS. THE FUEL STRAINER AND FUEL FLOW DIVIDER HAD EVIDENCE OF CORROSION DAMAGE. WATER WAS FOUND IN A FUEL LINE FROM THE LEFT RESERVOIR TANK TO THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. THE ACFT HAD AN EMERGENCY 3 DAYS BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT WHEN ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AFTER TAKEOFF. SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF WATER WERE DRAINED FROM THE ACFT AFTER THIS INCIDENT. ACFT RECORDS REVEALED THE ACFT HAD ONLY FLOWN 2 HOURS IN THE PREVIOUS 8 MONTHS. 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT WAS FOUND TO ONLY HAVE 1/4 FULL FUEL TANKS AND WAS TOPPED OFF AT THIS TIME. THE ACFT HAD NOT HAD AN ANNUAL INSP FOR 2 YEARS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,850 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,663 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1984; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: HWD Hollywood FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 7,991 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:39 pm from PBI, 1 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.
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.