Cessna 210 accident near Carrabassett, Maine, March 14, 1982
On March 14, 1982 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N3942Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrabassett, Maine (Sugarloaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- March 14, 1982 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carrabassett, Maine · Sugarloaf
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N3942Y · registry record · serial 21058442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 35, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD. IT DECELERATED RAPIDLY IN DEEP PACKED SNOW, SLID OVER A SNOW BANK, AND CAME TO REST ON THE PAVED RUNWAY. THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES. NO SHOULDER HARNESSES WERE INSTALLED, BUT THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED ON THIS 1964 AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT BELIEVED HE ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR ON FINAL APPROACH. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 15 GUSTING 25 KNOTS. THE PASSENGER, A CURRENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, STATED THAT THE STALL WARNING DEVICE SOUNDED TWO TIMES DURING THE APPROACH. THE PASSENGER BELIEVED THAT THE WIND GUSTS CAUSED THE WARNING DEVICE TO ACTIVATE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,880 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Norridgewock ME at 12:05 pm
- Destination: Haverhill MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.