Cessna 210 accident near Stibnite, Idaho, August 7, 1986
On August 7, 1986 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N7459E, was destroyed in an accident near Stibnite, Idaho (Indian Creek Usfs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1986 · about 6:20 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Stibnite, Idaho · Indian Creek Usfs · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N7459E · no longer on the register · serial 57159
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A STEEP, REDUCED POWER DESCENT INTO THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP. HE THEN REPORTED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE RATE OF DESCENT WITH A POWER APPLICATION, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE POWERPLANT AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE PILOT HAD APPLIED POWER NOR CLEARED THE ENGINE DURING THE DESCENT. THE LONG, POWER OFF DESCENT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE COLD SOAKED THE ENGINE RESULTING IN POOR ENGINE RESPONSE DURING THE RETURN OF POWER. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INSURE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE APPROACH AND/OR RAISE THE GEAR AFTER THE POWER LOSS RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT LANDING SHORT OF THE INTENDED RUNWAY. HIS UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRSTRIP AND ITS ASSOCIATED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AS WELL AS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIRCRAFT LANDING SHORT.
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: 615 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 558 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,085 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1U1 Moose Creek ID at 5:15 pm
- Destination: S81 Indian Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm from MYL, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7459E: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 210 Centurion 1,527 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental I0-470-E 4,724 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Indian Creek Usfs Airport · nearest airport
- Moose Creek /Usfs/ Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Idaho 1,535 since 1982 · 288 in the last ten years
- Idaho 4,199 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA86LA196.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.