Cessna P210N accident near Moab, Utah, January 2, 2021
On January 2, 2021 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna P210N, registered N833RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Moab, Utah (Canyonlands Fld airport). It was a personal 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 pilot’s improper application of full throttle during takeoff, which resulted in loss of engine power due to an excessive fuel flow and overly rich fuel mixture.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2021 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moab, Utah · Canyonlands Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N, built 1982 · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N833RT · registry record · serial P21000809
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing on the first flight of the day in cold weather conditions after the airplane had spent several hours inside a hangar to melt ice from the airframe and warm the engine. About 100-200 ft above ground level (agl) shortly after takeoff, the engine began to run rough and lost partial power. He retracted the landing gear, and the engine subsequently lost additional power. The pilot decided to land on the remaining runway and extended the landing gear. The airplane landed on the left side of the runway before veering right and exiting into the snow-covered runway safety area. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the right wingtip and right horizontal stabilizer. The front passenger reported to the pilot that the fuel flow gauge read about 42 gallons of fuel per hour (gph) during the takeoff. Recovered engine data indicated that fuel flow values exceeded 47 gph before the second loss of engine power. During an engine test run, the engine hesitated when the throttle was advanced, and the manifold pressure indicated 34.2 inHg, fuel flow 44 gph, at 2,720 rpm. After the engine reached a normal operating temperature, the engine ran normally. No component adjustments were made to the engine during the test run. According to the engine operating handbook, during the first flight of the day, the manifold pressure will normally exceed 31 inHg and fuel flows will exceed 37 gph if the throttle is opened fully. The handbook advised that manifold pressure be monitored and that the throttle be set to provide 31 inches of manifold pressure. It is likely that, during takeoff, the pilot fully advanced the throttle, which resulted in a high manifold pressure and high fuel flow, an excessively rich fuel/air mixture, and a subsequent loss of engine power.
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 control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 899.5 hours in all; 528.3 in this make and model; 42.6 in the last 90 days; 15.8 in the last 30 days; 670.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
Passenger
- Seat: left
Passenger
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 2020; 40 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental/Vitatoe TSIO-550-P6B (piston); 40 hours total
- Operator: Nash LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KCNY Moab UT at 9:30 pm
- Destination: KSLN Salina KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03/2, 7,360 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 3020.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KCNY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on April 5, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array-onsite (Courtesy of the Airport Manager) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-vitatoe | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Vitatoe POH Supplement-amplified Procedures-excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Vitatoe POH Supplement-normal Procedures-excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Raw Engine Data | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Engine Data and Graphs | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Beegles Test Run Results | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Email-vitatoe Reply on Engine Test Run Results | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
