# NTSB BFO88FA014: Cessna T210N, N5350A, Sterling, VA, January 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1988, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Sterling, VA
- Location: 39.0047° N, 77.4054° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sterling, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0047&lon=-77.4054&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11357/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FA014

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, dual student (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ABT 2.7 HRS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT PLT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE PRACTICING INSTRUMENT APCHS WHEN THE ENG LOST PWR. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT & MADE A FORCED LNDG, BUT THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED ON ROUGH TERRAIN. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE RIGHT & LEFT TANKS HAD ABOUT 0.5 & 30 GAL OF FUEL, RESPECTIVELY. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 4.3 HRS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED & THE RIGHT TANK HAD BEEN USED FOR ABOUT 3.5 HRS OF THAT TIME. ALSO, THE RGT TANK HAD BEEN USED FOR THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE ACDNT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5350A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5350A-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 21063383, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063383
- Airframe hours: 1311
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Armel Aviation
- Registered owner: Joel Horn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 1987, 78 hours before
- Departed: IAD
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Intl, runway 19L, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,338 total, 50 in this make and model, 4,871 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DUL, 3 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 19880124060399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880124060399A), Jan 24, 1988: Cessna T210N, Sterling, VA, Substantial damage. Engine quit in pattern. Crash landed in rough terrain near airport. Fuel selected to empty tank. Fuel in other tank

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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