19990423004029A

(.4) On April 23, 1999, at 1952 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210, N9512T, collided with an electrical transmission line, a tree, and an apartment complex in a residential area in Hayward, California. The obstacle collisions occurred following a loss of engine power as the airplane descended toward the Hayward airport. The airplane was destroyed and the certificated private pilot received serious injuries. His two passengers received fatal injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the columbia airport in columbia, California, about 1907 on the evening of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot's daughter stated that her father had departed columbia with his intended destination being the Hayward executive airport. A safety board investigator calculated that the flight time between columbia and Hayward, a distance of 98 statute miles (sm), would have taken approximately 45 minutes at an average speed of 160 mph, including an additional 10 minutes for takeoff, climb, and maneuvering. Air traffic control specialists in the Hayward air traffic control tower reported that the inbound pilot's transmissions were routine until he radioed, "I just switched tanks and completely lost my engine." In subsequent transmissions the pilot stated, "I can't make it to the airport," and that he would "have to land on a landfill" but that he was "looking for the power lines though." A witness on a hill less than 1 mile east of the crash site reported that she saw the airplane as it glided past. She said that the propeller appeared to be turning but that there was no audible engine sound. The airplane then banked right and immediately disappeared from view. Witness observations reported that the pilot's flight path had been southwest bound, paralleling the south side of transmission lines that run east to west until reaching a point about 2 miles southeast of the airport. Then, as the pilot crossed whitman street, he began a banked turn to the right. During the turn, the right wing tip clipped a single transmission line. Witnesses at the scene told police that from this point the remainder of his descent appeared to be uncontrolled. (-23) after hwd cleared privacy data omittedfor approach, he reported the engine lost power. Aircraft glided over cal state Hayward and down west slope of east bay hills. privacy data omitted Radioed he would have to land on a land fill. Aircraft began a banking turn to the right in the direction of whitman st. aircraft outer three feet of the right wing struck power lines separating it from the a/c. a/c appeared to strike a tree adjacent to a carport. The forward fuselage and left wing came to rest on carport roof. Rear fuselage and right wing came to rest vertically against carport wall and tree. The empennage came to rest on the walkway between the carport and apts. The last known fueling was on April 20, 1999 in columbia, CA where the tanks were topped off. The a/c holds 55 gallons useable fuel. Pilot log records indicate that flights on April 20, 1999 and subsequent accrued 3.2 hours and 5 takeoffs. At 14.2 gals/hr and two gallons per takeoff, fuel consuption would have been approx. 56.5 gallons. At the crash scene the left wing contained 2.5 gallons.