# NTSB CEN18CA021: Cessna T210N, N5129C, Eagle, CO, October 23, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 23, 2017, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Eagle, CO - Coordinates: 39.635555, -106.946945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6356&lon=-106.9469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 96251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18CA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96251/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96251 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18CA021 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following a 1.5-hour local flight, the pilot was returning to his home airfield. Due to inbound traffic to the airport, the pilot circled once to the west and descended for the runway. About 8 miles from the runway, he lowered the landing gear and set 10° flaps. While on the base leg, the engine did not respond to the throttle inputs. The pilot switched fuel tanks, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, and increased the mixture. Engine power was not restored, and the pilot notified the tower that the airplane had a total loss of engine power. Traffic was too heavy on a nearby road, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane touched down, and the pilot applied brakes. The airplane traveled for about 90 ft, hit a ditch, and nosed over. The pilot reported that he thought that he had about 45 gallons of fuel before takeoff, but he told the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had miscalculated his fuel. Only residue fuel was found during recovery of the airplane. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative Following a 1.5-hour local flight, the pilot was returning to his home airfield. Due to inbound traffic to the airport, the pilot circled once to the west and descended for the runway. About 8 miles from the runway, he lowered the landing gear and set 10° flaps. While on the base leg, the engine did not respond to the throttle inputs. The pilot switched tanks, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and increased the mixture. Engine power was not restored, and the pilot notified the tower that the airplane had a total loss of engine power. Traffic was too heavy on a nearby road, so the pilot performed a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane touched down and the pilot applied brakes. The aircraft traveled for about 90 ft, hit a ditch, and nosed over. The pilot thought that he had about 45 gallons of fuel prior to take off, but he told the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had miscalculated his fuel. Only residue fuel was found during recovery of the airplane. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5129C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5129C-2018-11-15), registration cancelled 2018-11-15, S/N 21063707, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N (N) - 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: 21063707 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 4941 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 2017 - Departed: EGE, EAGLE, CO - Destination: EGE, EAGLE, CO - Airport: EGE, Eagle County Rgnl - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,355 total, 646 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.48 inHg - Observed at: KEGE, 2 nm away ## Other investigations on N5129C (2) 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. - [NTSB DEN07CA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA116), Jul 3, 2007: Cessna T210N (N5129C), Loveland, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear. Contributing factors were the pilot's attention being diverted, and his failure to use the BEFORE LANDING checklist. - [NTSB DEN99FA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99FA077), May 13, 1999: Cessna T210N (N5129C), Greeley, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of both the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor to maintain a visual lookout. A factor was the failure of the other pilot to maintain a visual lookout. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96251. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Burton (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Burton-Master.PDF 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.