Cessna T210 accident near Hanna, Utah, August 7, 2020
On August 7, 2020 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna T210, registered N761RG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Hanna, Utah (Roosevelt Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed after a partial loss of power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall from which the pilot could not recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2020 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hanna, Utah · Roosevelt Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 M, built 1978 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N761RG · registry record · serial 21062453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal flight with five passengers aboard. Shortly after departing, the airplane flew over rising terrain to an altitude of 12,896 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot reported that the airplane lost partial engine power during a turn over mountainous terrain and was not able to produce enough power to sustain lift. The pilot then conducted a forced landing near a lake shoreline. An onboard video of the flight was recorded by the front-seat passenger. Examination of the onboard video showed that the stall warning horn sounded before the airplane crossed the shoreline, after which the airplane likely entered an aerodynamic stall. A screen shot of the instrument panel at this time showed that the rpm gauge indicated about 1,600 rpm, manifold pressure gauge was at 19 inches of mercury, and the fuel flow gauge needle was off scale. The throttle, propeller and mixture levers were all in the fully forward position. The fuel tank quantity indicator read about 19 gallons for the left tank and about 12 gallons for the right tank. Calculations from the engine data revealed that about 8 1/2 gallons of fuel was consumed during the flight. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunctions or anomalies. Given the available information for this investigation, the reason for the 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 maneuvering defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 745 hours in all; 308 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,991 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2020; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 74V Roosevelt UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KVEL, 46 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVEL 071653Z AUTO 12005KT 10SM CLR 24/M02 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP130
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on February 13, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photo Array-duchesne County Sherrifs Office | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record-mr. Feild | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Occupant VIDEO1 | MOV file | Download |
| 4 | Occupant Video 2 | 3GP file | Download |
| 5 | Photo Array-google Earth View of the ADS-B Flight Track | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Raw ADS-B Data | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-textron Aviation | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Sound Spectrum Study | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Airframe Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 10 | NTSB Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Jpi Raw Engine Data | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Jpi Data Line Charts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 13 | FAA Logbook Review | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 14 | Fuel Receipts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 15 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N761RG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.
