# NTSB LAX86LA331: Cessna P210N, N5135A, Salton City, CA, August 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 1986, 15:53 local (22:53 UTC)
- Place: Salton City, CA
- Coordinates: 33.479259, -116.10025 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4793&lon=-116.1003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25239
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA331
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25239/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA331

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - ignition system,magneto - arcing
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, production/design personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING A DESCENT FROM 17,500' MSL TO 10,000' MSL. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE ACFT WAS LANDED GEAR-UP IN A ROCKY FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED A TRACK OF INTERNAL ELECTRICAL ARCING IN THE DISTRIBUTOR SECTION OF BOTH MAGNETOS. THE SLICK MAGNETOS, MODEL NUMBER 6220, HAD A TOTAL TIME SINCE NEW OF 401 HOURS. THE ACFT SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS SUGGEST THE MAGNETO BREAKER COMPARTMENT BE INSPECTED DURING THE FIRST 25 HOUR ACFT INSPECTION AND DURING EACH SUBSEQUENT 100 HOUR INSPECTION. THE ACFT HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 36 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURERS SEAL ON THE BREAKER COMPARTMENT SCREW HEADS HAD NOT BEEN BROKEN INDICATING THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT INSPECTED DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5135A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5135A-1991-05-17), registration cancelled 1991-05-17, S/N P21000831 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000831
- Airframe hours: 401
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-AF 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank G. Jameson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1987, 36 hours before
- Departed: BUR, BURBANK, CA
- Destination: UDD, BERMUDA DUNES, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total, 200 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TRM, 23 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 19860826044339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860826044339A), Aug 26, 1986: Cessna P210N, Salton City, CA, Substantial damage. The engine failed. The aircraft landed in rocky terrain. Magnetos failed and had not been properly inspected.

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.