Cessna T-210 accident near Spring Valley, New York, August 9, 1986
On August 9, 1986 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna T-210, registered N4879U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Valley, New York (Ramapo Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 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
- August 9, 1986 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spring Valley, New York · Ramapo Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-210 · all T-210s on the register
- Registration
- N4879U · no longer on the register · serial 210-64830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN THE CESSNA T-210N WITH 3 PASSENGERS. THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT, SO HE RETURNED FOR LANDING. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ONCE MORE LIGHTLY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DRIFTED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK TREES. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT THE PILOT SHUT OFF THE MASTER SWITCH AND IGNITION SWITCH. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE FUEL WHEN IMPACT OCCURRED. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE TWO MIDDLE SEAT PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED.
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
- Flight time: 218 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 780 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 1, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: N80 Ocean City MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,185 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.