# NTSB ATL89LA028: Cessna T210M, N732WC, Sheperdsville, KY, November 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1988, 22:15 local (Nov 8, 1988, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Sheperdsville, KY
- Coordinates: 37.979682, -85.710655 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9797&lon=-85.7107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7948
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7948/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA028

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN A CESSNA 172 TO TAMPA TO PICK UP A CESSNA T210M FOR A FLIGHT TO LOUISVILLE, KY. THE 210 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY FLOWN TO TAMPA FROM FT. MYERS BY THE OWNER. AFTER A PREFLIGHT IN WHICH THE PILOT SAID HE VISUALLY VERIFIED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL, THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR LOUISVILLE. ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF STANDIFORD FIELD, LOUISVILLE, KY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A NIGHT FORCED LANDING IN TREES. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE. AFTER RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE, AN ENGINE RUN WAS COMPLETED AFTER ADDING FUEL TO THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM, THE LAST VERIFIED REFUELING OF THE AIRPLANE WAS AT FT. MYERS ON NOVEMBER 2, 1988 WHEN 16 GALLONS WERE ADDED TO 'TOP' THE TANKS. A CALCULATION OF THE FUEL REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A FLIGHT FROM FT. MYERS TO TAMPA TO LOUISVILLE WAS MADE. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT 86.3 GALLONS OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED UNDER OPTIMUM CONDITIONS. THE USABLE CAPACITY OF THE AIRPLANE WAS 89 GALLONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N732WC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732WC-1999-06-30), registration cancelled 1999-06-30, S/N 21061824 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061824
- Airframe hours: 651
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R1A 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gregory A. Hewett
- Registered owner: Duffy Foods, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1988, 76 hours before
- Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Destination: SDF, LOUISVILLE, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SDF, Standiford

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,668 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,450 as pilot in command, 199 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDF, 12 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 19881107069989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881107069989A), Nov 7, 1988: Cessna T210M, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route at night on a IFR flight plan. Descended into trees, failed to have fuel for an IFR flight

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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