# NTSB LAX86FA288: Cessna T210N, N5534Y, Bullhead City, AZ, July 13, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1986, 21:25 local (Jul 13, 1986, 04:25 UTC)
- Place: Bullhead City, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.449222, -112.089607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4492&lon=-112.0896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24926
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA288
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24926/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA288

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - object - wire,transmission
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 450 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE AND HIS 5 PASSENGERS, ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT DURING DARKNESS. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST LANDING AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT AND HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ON HIS ARRIVAL HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON A RIGHT DOWNWIND LEG TO RUNWAY 35. THIS PATTERN WAS CONTRARY TO THE PUBLISHED PATTERN AND THE LIGHTED SEGMENTED CIRCLE VISUAL TRAFFIC PATTERN INDICATOR ON THE AIRPORT. HE WAS UNABLE TO COMLETE HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO LAND AND MADE A GO-AROUND. AFTER CLIMBING PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PILOT MADE A LEFT STEEP TURN OF APPROXIMATELY 225 DEGREES. THE TURN PLACED THE AIRCRAFT ON A RIGHT DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 35 AND IT DESCENDED INTO HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5534Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5534Y-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N 21064240 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21064240
- Airframe hours: 1450
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520R 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Scottsdale Aero Mech Flying Cl
- Registered owner: Ecker Stuart T.& D. Knott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 23, 1986, 19 hours before
- Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Destination: P06, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Airport: PO6, Bullhead City, runway 35, 5,060 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total, 2 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LSV, 67 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 19860712032089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860712032089A), Jul 12, 1986: Cessna T210N, Bullhead City, AZ, Destroyed, 5 fatal. The aircraft hit powerlines during a night approach. The pilot failed to follow published traffic pattern procedure.

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.