Cessna P-210 accident near Pasco, Washington, September 19, 1986
On September 19, 1986 at about 5:30 am local time, a Cessna P-210, registered N6185W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pasco, Washington (Tri-Cities airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 19, 1986 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Pasco, Washington · Tri-Cities · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P-210 · all P-210s on the register
- Registration
- N6185W · no longer on the register · serial P210000726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE AT 14,000 FEET MSL, A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH A FLASH FIRE AT THE TURBOCHARGER OCCURRED. A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED WHILE MAKING A RAPID DESCENT. AN UNDERSHOOT TO THE RUNWAY OCCURRED WITH THE LANDING GEAR CATCHING ON A WIRE FENCE. THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT WHEN IT STRUCK THE FENCE. THE ACFT THEN TRAVELED A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. THE NUMBER THREE PISTON, CONNECTING ROD, AND CAP HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. A TOP OVERHAUL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE 11 MONTHS (163 FLIGHT HOURS) PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,965 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 831 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1986; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALW Walla Walla WA
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12, 7,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 am from PSC
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.