Cessna P210N accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, September 21, 1987
On September 21, 1987 at about 5:34 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4500K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (N. Las Vegas Air Terminal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 21, 1987 · about 5:34 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · N. Las Vegas Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4500K · registry record · serial 21000201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON DESCENT FOR LANDING AT 6500 FEET MSL ABOUT 5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. AT 5000 FEET AGL THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND AT ABOUT 2000 FEET AGL LANDING FLAPS WERE ADDED. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 1/2 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK ACEMENT BLOCK, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER INVERTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A TOTAL OF 3/4 OF A QUART OF FUEL REMAINING ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 23,500 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 13,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,046 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1987; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 4:50 pm
- Destination: LAS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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.