Cessna P210N accident near Boise, Idaho, January 21, 1982
On January 21, 1982 at about 3:56 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4947K, was destroyed in an accident near Boise, Idaho. 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
- January 21, 1982 · about 3:56 pm local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4947K · no longer on the register · serial 00379
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 10,000 FT MSL THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HAVING VACUUM PROBLEMS AND WAS ON PARTIAL PANEL. SALT LAKE CITY ARTCC ANSWERED HIS REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE TO A VFR LANDING WITH NO GYRO VECTOR INSTRUCTIONS BACK TO BOISE. THE PILOT THEN STATED HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TURN COORDINATOR AND THAT THE VACUUM PUMP WAS NOT OPERATING. AT 0856 THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE SALT LAKE CITY ARTCC AND BOISE APPROACH CONTROL RADAR SCOPES. NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 18 MILES SE OF BOISE AFTER HAVING IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A NEAR VERTICAL ANGLE, STRIKING THE NOSE AND LEFT WING FIRST. EXAMINATION OF THE DRY AIR VACUUM PUMP REVEALED PREIMPACT FAILURE DAMAGE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,502 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 947 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 8:35 am
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from BOI, 18 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.