Cessna P210N accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, March 9, 1989
On March 9, 1989 at about 8:21 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N734QR, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN A DITCHING IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. HIGH SEAS MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM GETTING INTO HIS SURVIVAL SUIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1989 · about 8:21 am local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734QR · no longer on the register · serial P21DD8611
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM GANDER, NEWFOUNDLAND TO SHANNON, IRELAND WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT APPEAR TO GET INTO HIS SURVIVAL SUIT. THE WIND WAS 35-40 MPH, AND THE WAVE HEIGHTS 25-32 FT. THE PILOT WAS NOT FOUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PILOT HAD RADIOED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT THROTTLE CABLE HAD STUCK. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PILOT GOT INTO HIS AIRPLANE WITHOUT SUMPING THE TANKS.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1989; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YOX Gander, Nfld at 5:00 am
- Destination: Shannon,Ireland
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 40 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.