Cessna P210 accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, February 17, 1985
On February 17, 1985 at about 2:19 am local time, a Cessna P210, registered N731EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Las Vegas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- February 17, 1985 · about 2:19 am local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210 · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N731EZ · no longer on the register · serial 21000449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HYDRAULIC POWER PACK RESERVOIR WAS DEPLETED FROM A LEAK IN THE HAND PUMP SUCTION LINE, WHICH HAD BEEN CHAFED THROUGH BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS SUFFICIENT BACK PRESSURE REMAINING TO LOWER AND LOCK THE NOSE GEAR, BUT THE MAIN GEAR NEVER EXTENDED BEYOND THE OVER-CENTER LOCKS AND COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE LANDING GEAR WARNING HORN WAS IMPROPERLY RIGGED AND NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE PILOT STATED HE OBSERVED A GEAR- DOWN INDICATION (LIGHT). THE INDICATING SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE PROPERLY CALIBRATED; HOWEVER, IT COULD NOT HAVE DISPLAYED A GEAR-DOWN LIGHT UNLESS THE MAIN GEAR WERE FULLY EXTENDED. THE PILOT'S STATEMENT IS IN ERROR IN THIS REGARD.
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: 416 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 940 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 28, 1984; 30 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: P06 Bullhead City AZ at 1:45 am
- Destination: LAS Las Begas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 9,776 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 am from LAS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N731EZ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.