# NTSB SEA86LA249: Cessna P-210, N6185W, Pasco, WA, September 19, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1986, 22:30 local (Sep 19, 1986, 05:30 UTC)
- Place: Pasco, WA
- Coordinates: 46.410079, -118.900619 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4101&lon=-118.9006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40503
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86LA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40503/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA249

## 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, cruise
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Fire, cruise
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (cause)
  - object - fence (cause)
  - landing gear - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE AT 14,000 FEET MSL, A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH A FLASH FIRE AT THE TURBOCHARGER OCCURRED. A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED WHILE MAKING A RAPID DESCENT. AN UNDERSHOOT TO THE RUNWAY OCCURRED WITH THE LANDING GEAR CATCHING ON A WIRE FENCE. THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT WHEN IT STRUCK THE FENCE. THE ACFT THEN TRAVELED A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. THE NUMBER THREE PISTON, CONNECTING ROD, AND CAP HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. A TOP OVERHAUL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE 11 MONTHS (163 FLIGHT HOURS) PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6185W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6185W-1994-10-27), registration cancelled 1994-10-27, S/N P21000726 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P-210
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P210000726
- Airframe hours: 831
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Ford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1986, 45 hours before
- Departed: ALW, WALLA WALLA, WA
- Destination: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PSC, Tri-Cities, runway 12, 7,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,965 total, 510 in this make and model, 1,875 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PSC

## 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 19860918045419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860918045419A), Sep 18, 1986: Cessna P210N, Pasco, WA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Engine fire. Emergency descent. Struck fence on landing. NR3 cylinder blown. Fire at turbocharger.

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.
