Cessna T210N accident near White Plains, New York, March 12, 1986
On March 12, 1986 at about 11:52 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5217C, was substantially damaged in an accident near White Plains, New York (Westchester CO airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 12, 1986 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- White Plains, New York · Westchester CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5217C · registry record · serial 21063719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FLIGHT THE PLT NOTED A FULL DISCHARGE ON THE AMMETER AND A OPEN ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER AFTER ATC REPORTED LOSS OF TRANSPX SIGNAL. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WOULD NOT RESET. THE LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. HE DIVERTED THE FLIGHT TO WHITE PLAINS AND REDUCED ELECTRICAL LOAD. DURING THE APCH, THE PLT LOWERED THE FLAPS AND GEAR ELECTRICALLY. HE DID NOT RECALL WHETHER THE GEAR DOWN LIGHTS CAME ON. UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE MAIN GEAR WAS FOUND IN THE GEAR BAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED 3 WIRES LOOSELY CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE TERMINALS OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WERE DISCOLORED FROM SILVER TO BLUE. APPROX 1-1/2 TURNS OF THE SCREWS WERE REQUIRED TO SNUG THE WIRES TO TERMINAL.
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: 2,054 hours in all; 901 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 1,863 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1985; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Richmond VA at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 4,451 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 600 ft; clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from HPN
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.