# NTSB FTW87MA133: Cessna P210R, N5488A, Arnett, OK, June 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: June 3, 1987, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Arnett, OK
- Coordinates: 36.13031, -99.769889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1303&lon=-99.7699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87MA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22436/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87MA133

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - level off - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization,control/indicator - not engaged (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - excessive
  - incapacitation(anoxia/hypoxia), pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not performed (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE FLT DEPARTED BATON ROUGE (BTR) FOR THE PLTS STATED DEST OF ALEXANDRIA, WHICH WAS 78 MILES ON A BEARING OF 301 DEG, AT 0836 CDT. AFTER DEP THE BTR LOCAL AREA THERE WAS NO RADIO CONTACT WITH ANY ATC FACILITY. THE TRANSPONDER CONTINUED TO TRANSMIT A CODE 1200 UNTIL RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 1145:32 CDT. IMPACT OCCURRED DURING A POWER-OFF UNCONTROLLED DESCENT APRX 3 HRS AND 24 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF ABOUT 310 DEG AND 520 NAUTICAL MILES FROM BTR. THERE WERE NO DEVIATIONS FROM THAT COURSE. ONLY A TRACE OF UNUSABLE FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE WITH NONE DISCOVERED IN FUEL LINES. LINE OF SIGHT DISTANCE CALCULATIONS FROM ATC SITES REVEALED THAT THE ACFT ACHIEVED AN ALTITUDE OF AT LEAST 12,800 FT. ACFT SPEED CHANGES FROM RECORDED RADAR DATA AND PERFORMANCE INFO FROM THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE ACFT CLIMBED TO AN ALT OF APRX 18,685 FT MSL. THE CABIN PRESSURIZATION SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION AND ONBOARD OXYGEN WAS NOT UTILIZED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5488A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5488A-1987-06-03), registration cancelled 1987-06-03, S/N P21000858, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210R
- Registry model: [Cessna P210R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210r) (registry code 2073455) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000858
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-LE 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Butch Baum And Associates Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1987, 60 hours before
- Departed: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Destination: ESF, ALEXANDRIA, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total, 800 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GAG, 12 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870603018349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870603018349A), Jun 3, 1987: Cessna P210R, Arnett, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Climbed straight out until fuel exhaustion and crash 5O0 miles beyond destination. Conclusion pilot incapacitation.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.