Cessna P210N accident near Newton, Kansas, January 16, 1990
On January 16, 1990 at about 1:23 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4589K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newton, Kansas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. DARKNESS AND THE RESULTANT DELAY IN FLARING TO LAND WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1990 · about 1:23 am local time
- Place
- Newton, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4589K · no longer on the register · serial P21000226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT AND HIS PILOT RATED PASSENGER DEPARTED NEWTON AIRPORT FOR A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO GREAT BEND, KANSAS. THE PILOTS REPORTED THEY EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AT ABOUT 4500 FT ON DEPARTURE AND MADE A LANDING IN A CULTIVATED MILO FIELD. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE THAT WOULD PRECLUDE NORMAL OPERATION. BOTH OUTER WING TIPS WERE BENT DOWN DUE TO A HARD LANDING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,180 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 1989; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sanford CO. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: EWK Newton KS at 1:16 am
- Destination: GBD Great Bend KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.