Cessna T210 accident near Newport, Rhode Island, January 14, 1989
On January 14, 1989 at about 5:00 am local time, a Cessna T210, registered N6556A, was destroyed in an accident near Newport, Rhode Island (Newport State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND DUE TO RAISING THE FLAPS AT LOW AIRSPEED, IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1989 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Newport, Rhode Island · Newport State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N6556A · no longer on the register · serial 21063550
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ATTEMPTED GO AROUND PILOT SAID THAT ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. UPON RAISING THE FLAPS AND MAKING NOSE HIGH LEFT TURN THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED SO HE LANDED IN A NEARBY FARM FIELD AND NOSED OVER. A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES.
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: 546 hours in all; 302 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 385 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 2 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: ISP Islip NY at 6:50 pm
- Destination: 2B4 Newport RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.