Cessna 210D accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, November 18, 1995
On November 18, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210D, registered N3741Y, was destroyed in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
improper planning/decision by the pilot, his resultant VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain altitude and clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210D · all 210Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3741Y · no longer on the register · serial 21058241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument-rated, commercial pilot departed from a backcountry airstrip with his two passengers. The airplane was later observed by a ground witness maneuvering below the tops of mountain peaks in fog and rain. Subsequently, the airplane impacted mountainous terrain. There was evidence that the engine was producing power. An examination of the airplane revealed it was in a cruise flight configuration. No radio distress calls or requests for assistance were received from the pilot. Weather data indicated overcast clouds, rain, and mountain obscuration. No evidence was found to indicate any turbulence or wind gusts in the area at the time of the accident. Also, no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane was found.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,150 hours in all; 54 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1995; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-FCA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: U60 Big Tree ID at 5:45 pm
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.