- Date
- July 4, 1989, 12:54 local (18:54 UTC)
- Place
- Houma, LA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5489WCessna P210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 22, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890704019399A
- Case key
- 22776
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Incapacitation of the 70 year old pilot, which led to the loss of control of the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The instrument rated pilot received two weather briefings and VFR flight was not recommended. A VFR flight plan was filed but was not activated. Enroute the pilot informed ATC he was descending from 11,500 feet to 9,500 feet. ATC noticed a mode c transponder readout at 7,500 feet, and attempted to contact the pilot but the pilot did not respond. Winesses saw the airplane in a steep dive but none saw the ground impact. Parts of the right wing were found as FAR away as one half mile. Recovery of the engine was at a depth of at least 25 feet. The rotor of the attitude gyro had rotational damage marks. No autopsy was performed and toxicology report was not significant. Pilot's wife indicated pilot had been prescribed 'vasotic' medicine for high blood pressure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5489W
- Reported as
- Cessna P210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- P21000697
- Airframe hours
- 1,203
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-P, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- J. W. Christensen
- Registered owner
- Christensen, J.W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 22, 1988 · 68 hours before
- Departed
- HOU · Houston, TX
- Destination
- MOB · Mobile, AL
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HUM, 8 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.