Cessna P210N accident near Glendale, California, May 22, 2012
On May 22, 2012 at about 4:10 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N732JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Glendale, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during descent for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2012 · about 4:10 am local time
- Place
- Glendale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N732JL · no longer on the register · serial P21000582
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, as he descended below 9,000 feet mean sea level, he encountered a severe surging of the engine and a reduction in power. The pilot declared an emergency, and he was advised by air traffic control of the two nearest airports. The pilot maneuvered the airplane towards one of the airports. Due to the reduction in power and loss of altitude, the pilot determined that he would be unable to land at the airport, and, therefore, he elected to land on a city street. The airplane impacted trees and a telephone pole before coming to rest inverted in the front yard of a residence. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was removed from the airframe and prepared for an engine test run. The engine was started and operated for several minutes at various power settings. Further testing of components from the turbocharger system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the surging and partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (descent) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 825 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,487.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 2011; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 400 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 1:10 am
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 am from KBUR, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.