# NTSB BFO96LA036: Cessna T210N, N5218A, Louisville, KY, January 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 1996, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.220401, -85.679786 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2204&lon=-85.6798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9125/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA036 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of the fuel supply, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during final approach to the destination airport. Factors relating to the accident were: terrain conditions and vehicles in the emergency landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - residential area (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command - flare - not possible, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that as he neared the destination airport, the right fuel tank ran out of fuel, so he switched to the left tank. He stated that the left fuel quantity gage indicated that it contained about 1/4 tank of fuel. The pilot reported that when the airplane was about 2-1/2 miles from the destination airport, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and he made a forced landing in a residential area about 1/2 mile from the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that due to traffic and the length of the streets, he was unable to maintain normal glide speed until touchdown. Subsequently, the airplane impacted on a roadway and skidded into a tree. The pilot attributed the accident to fuel exhaustion. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of usable fuel in the airplane fuel system. No fuel odor or fuel stains were noted at the accident site. Visual inspection of the fuel system revealed no indication of a preimpact mechanical failure, and the aircraft maintenance logs '. . . revealed no past discrepancies involving the fuel system.' ## Factual narrative On January 12, 1996, at 0820 eastern standard time, a Cessna T210N, N5218A, operated by PromptAir, Inc. as a cargo flight, impacted terrain in a residential area after a loss of engine power while on final approach to runway 32 at Bowman Field, in Louisville, Kentucky. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an IFR flight plan. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 135, and originated from Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 0652 eastern standard time. The pilot stated that the airplane fuel tanks were full (90 gallons of 100LL fuel) when the cargo flight originated from Louisville, with an intended destination of Chattanooga, at about 2238 on January 11, 1995. He reported that when he arrived at Chattanooga, he was informed that the airport was closed due to slush on the runways. The pilot diverted to Nashville, Tennessee, where the airplane touched down at about 0129 on January 12. He reported that the flight departed Nashville for Chattanooga at about 0520, and arrived at Chattanooga at 0615. The pilot stated that he figured that the airplane had about 25 gallons of fuel remaining when he landed in Chattanooga. He reported that he purchased an additional 15 gallons before he departed Chattanooga to return to Louisville, Kentucky. The pilot stated that he departed Chattanooga at approximately 0652. The pilot stated that at about 0818, he "...ran [the] right tank dry [and] switched to left tank..." which he said indicated slight below 1/4 tank. The pilot reported that when the airplane was about 2 to 2 1/2 miles from the airport the "...engine sputters and quits... ." His attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and he made a forced landing on a road in a residential area. The pilot reported that "...due to automobile traffic [and] length of streets, an approach at normal glide speed was not possible. I was forced to stall [the airplane] the last 50 [feet] or so...I hit the road and slid off into a tree... ." The pilot stated "The manner in which the engine stopped leads me to believe fuel exhaustion was the cause." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated that no fuel stains or fuel odor were present at the accident site, and that a visual check revealed no evidence of useable fuel on board the airplane. The FAA Inspector's statement indicated that "Inspectors...noted ice along the leading edges of both wings of approximately 3/8 in. thickness and 1 1/2 in. in width along the length of the wings on the deice boots." Further examination of the fuel system revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel flow divider, or in the right header tank. Investigators drained approximately 1/2 cup of fuel from the fuel strainer assembly, and about 1/2 cup of fuel from the left header tank. The FAA Inspector stated that a visual inspection of the fuel system revealed no indication of a lack of continuity of the fuel system, and that aircraft maintenance logs "...revealed no past discrepancies involving the fuel system." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5218A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5218A-1998-11-18), registration cancelled 1998-11-18, S/N 21063313 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T21063313 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Promptair, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CHA, CHATTANOOGA, TN - Destination: LOU, KY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field, runway 32, 3,539 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 3,550 as pilot in command, 360 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LOU ## 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 19960112000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960112000529A), Jan 12, 1996: Cessna T210N, Louisville, KY, Destroyed. Lost power on approach to runway. Stall landed on city street due traffic. Fuel exhaustion. Icing reduced range. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.