# NTSB ATL89FA006: Cessna 210N, N6510N, Alexander City, AL, October 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1988, 19:25 local (Oct 7, 1988, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Alexander City, AL
- Coordinates: 32.920707, -85.930648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9207&lon=-85.9306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7855
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7855/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA006

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,shoulder harness - not engaged
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT 2 MI SHORT OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT IT IMPACTED NOSE DOWN AFTER CLEARING TREES; NO ENGINE SOUNDS WERE HEARD. ACCORDING TO RESCUE PERSONNEL, THE PLT INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO ENGINE OR OTHER MECHANICAL FAILURES; HE INDICATED INSTEAD THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM W/ FUEL. THE PERSONNEL NOTED THAT THEY DIDN'T SMELL ANY FUEL ODOR OR OBSERVE ANY FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE SCENE. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED ONLY TRACE AMOUNTS OF FUEL IN THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION OR MECH MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD DEPARTED THE ARPT EARLIER IN THE DAY W/ APPROX 64 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. TOTAL CAPACITY IS 89 GAL. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THAT ADDITONAL FUEL WAS OBTAINED DURING SUBSEQUENT STOPS. INTERPOLATION OF ACFT PERFORMANCE CHARTS REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD AN EXPECTED ENDURANCE OF ABOUT 4.7 HRS AT 65% PWR, WITH 64 GAL OF USABLE FUEL. THE ACTUAL ELAPSED FLT TIME SINCE REFUELING WAS ABOUT 5 HRS, BASED ON TACH TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6510N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6510N-1990-11-13), registration cancelled 1990-11-13, S/N 21063076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N
- Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063076
- Airframe hours: 2253
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Robert W. Goree
- Registered owner: Goree, Robert W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 1988, 76 hours before
- Departed: CONCORD, NC
- Destination: ALX, ALEXANDER CITY, AL
- Airport: ALX, Thomas C Russell Field, runway 18, 3,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 740 total, 640 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGM, 44 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 19881006044669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881006044669A), Oct 6, 1988: Cessna 210N, Alexander City, AL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Ran out of fuel at night. Hit a tree and stalled. Impacted ground nosed over. Almost made an open athletic field.

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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