# NTSB CHI85LA141: Cessna T210L, N94032, Sauk Village, IL, March 18, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1985, 22:15 local (Mar 18, 1985, 04:15 UTC)
- Place: Sauk Village, IL
- Coordinates: 41.500377, -87.629768 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5004&lon=-87.6298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13028
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13028/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA141

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - refueling - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - inadequate (cause)
- Occurrence
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

DURING A NIGHT PREFLIGHT THE FUEL QUANTITY WAS VISUALLY CHECKED AND THE PLT ESTIMATED EACH TANK CONTAINED 35 GALS. THE LEFT FUEL GUAGE INDICATED 220 POUNDS AND THE RIGHT GUAGE WAS INOP. AFTER APRX 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES OF FLT TIME A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A HIGHWAY DURING WHICH THE ACFT CONTACTED A GAURD RAIL AND A DITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED VERY LITTLE FUEL. THE PORTION OF THE FLT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT WAS BEING MADE ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94032](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94032-2001-11-21), registration cancelled 2001-11-21, S/N 21060485, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21060485
- Airframe hours: 18474
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Promptusair, Inc.
- Registered owner: Promptair, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 13, 1985, 642 hours before
- Departed: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Destination: MDW, CHICAGO, IL
- Airport: 3HA, Lansing

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,377 total, 1,637 in this make and model, 14,070 as pilot in command, 2,301 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850317009589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850317009589A), Mar 17, 1985: Cessna T210L, Sauk Village, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot visually checked fuel due to malfunctioning gauges before flight. Fuel exhausted, hit guard rail on landing.

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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