Cessna T210N accident near Skaneateles, New York, November 26, 1987
On November 26, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5136Y, was destroyed in an accident near Skaneateles, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- November 26, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Skaneateles, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5136Y · no longer on the register · serial 21064091
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM HOLLAND, MI THE PILOT RECEIVED A BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR IFR CONDITIONS OVER HIS ENTIRE ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND OCCASIONAL LIGHT TO MODERATE RIME AND/OR MIXED ICING IN CLOUDS BELOW 18,000 FEET. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART AND AT 1132 EST THE PILOT CALLED BUFFALO FLIGHT WATCH AND REQUESTED THE SYRACUSE WEATHER. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED THAT FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS EXISTED FOR OCCASIONAL RIME ICING BETWEEN 2,000 AND 9,000 FEET. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MAKE A LEFT TURN FOR FINAL APPROACH, DESCEND RAPIDLY AND CRASH ON THE ROCKY SHORE OF LAKE SKANEATELES .5 NM EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE WING DEICING CAPABILITY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES.
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: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,492 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1987; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C19 Holland MI
- Destination: 6B9
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from SYR, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.