# Accident 19971030045739A: Cessna P210N, Smoketown, PA, October 30, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 30, 1997, 12:30 local time
- Place: Smoketown, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.0404° N, 76.2002° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0404&lon=-76.2002&mi=10
- Aircraft: N600WL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N600WL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna P210N (registry code 2073454, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520P
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 680 total, 229 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971030045739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE OWNER REPORTED THAT THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND. THE CFI, FLYING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, STATED THAT HE WAS GIVEN AN EN ROUTE DESCENT TO 3,000 FEET.  LOWERING THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE BY 2 INCHES ABOUT EVERY 2 MINUTES SO AS NOT TO SHOCK COOL THE ENGINE, THE CFI NOTICED THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROP FROM 18 INCHES TO 10 INCHES, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO HIS INPUTS.  THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS ON THE LEFT TANK AND THE FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED 1/4 TANK.  THE CFI GAVE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE OWNER AT ABOUT 2,500 FEET MSL.  THE OWNER, ESTIMATED THEIR ALTITUDE TO BE ABOUT 1,500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, FOCUSED ON LOCATING A SUITABLE FIELD FOR LANDING.  THE FORCED LANDING TO A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPING OVER DURING ROLL OUT.  THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION.  NO FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK AND 11 GALLONS WERE DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK.  NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB IAD98LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA009), Oct 30, 1997: Cessna P210N (N600WL), Smoketown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot in command's (CFI) improper management of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion of the selected tank and the subsequent loss of engine power.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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