# NTSB ATL88FA073: Cessna P210N, N6438W, Huntsville, AL, January 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 3, 1988, 16:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Location: 34.4928° N, 86.7628° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from HUNTSVILLE INTL-CARL T JONES FLD (HSV), within about 3 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4928&lon=-86.7628&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7580/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA073

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - complacency, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6438W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6438W-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N P21000779, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P210N-00779
- Airframe hours: 1445
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-AF 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William A. Sneed
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1987, 162 hours before
- Departed: APF, NAPLES, FL
- Destination: HSV, NASHVILLE, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HSV, Huntsville Madison Co, runway 36, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,555 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HSV, 1 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 19880103000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880103000139A), Jan 3, 1988: Cessna P210N, Huntsville, AL, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel 1 mile short of airport and crashed through trees. Failed to assure fuel for trip plus reserve.

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.

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