# NTSB CHI94LA073: Cessna T210M, N1215M, Olathe, KS, January 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 1994, 01:25 local (07:25 UTC) - Place: Olathe, KS - Coordinates: 38.880855, -94.810333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8809&lon=-94.8103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9459/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA073 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives regarding the positioning of the fuel tank selector to the fullest tank for the landing portion of flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH. THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. HIS INITIAL ATTEMPT AT REGAINING POWER WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND THE ENGINE RAN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN QUIT. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO LOW TO ATTEMPT A RESTART AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCOVERED NO MECHANICAL ANOMAlIES WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE AIRPLANE'S PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK REQUIRES THAT THE FULLEST TANK BE SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING, AND NOTES THAT SLIPS AND SKIDS SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH LESS THAN 1/4 OF A TANK OF FUEL DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR UNPORTING OF THE FUEL PICKUP AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE'S RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/2 FULL; THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 3 GALLONS OF GAS. THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR IN THE COCKPIT WAS FOUND SELECTED TO THE LEFT TANK. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 1994, about 0125 central standard time, a Cessna T210M airplane, N1215M, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing while on an instrument approach for runway 35 at Johnson County Industrial Airport, Olathe, Kansas. The commercial pilot reported serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand all cargo air taxi flight was operating on an instrument flight plan in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB that prior to his instrument approach to Johnson County Industrial Airport (IXD), he made one instrument approach each to the Kansas City Downtown (MKC) Airport, and the Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC). Each approach resulted in a missed approach. Following the missed approach at OJC, the pilot said he saw the rotating beacon at IXD, and asked Air Traffic Control (ATC) for a radar vector there. The pilot requested and received an ILS approach for runway 35, although he said he had the airport visually during the entire approach. Approximately one-quarter of a mile from the runway, the pilot reported"...fuel pressure and manifold pressure, power loss. I push throttle in and activate all fuel pumps. Pressure increases, power returns, airplane nose turns left due to power increase. I am correcting to the right to realign to runway, when even with pumps still on, the airplane loses power again. Due to low air speed and airplane attitude, it noses down and impacts ground." Postaccident inspection discovered no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe. The airplane's fuel tanks were intact, and the airplane had come to rest in an upright, nose down position. Approximately three gallons of fuel were removed from the left tank, and the forty-five gallon capacity right tank was about one-half full. The fuel selector was found selected to the left tank. The pilot operating handbook (POH) for the T210M airplane lists all but one gallon of the fuel supply as usable. The POH also states that the fullest fuel tank should be used for takeoffs and landings. An excerpt from the POH reads, in part, "Unusable fuel is at a minimum due to the design of the fuel system. However, when the fuel tanks are 1/4 full or less, prolonged uncoordinated flight such as slips or skids can uncover the fuel tank outlets, causing fuel starvation and engine stoppage." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1215M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1215M), registered now, S/N 21061924, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21061924 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520A 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: J.P. Hunt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DSM, DES MOINES, IA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IXD, Industrial Airport, runway 35, 7,339 × 175 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 13,375 total, 202 in this make and model, 12,900 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IXD ## 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 19940127001109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940127001109A), Jan 27, 1994: Cessna T210M, Olathe, KS, Substantial damage. Missed two approaches to two airports. Saw ixd beacon. Engine quit on approach. Low fuel unported possible cause. ## Other investigations on N1215M (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 CEN21FA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA207), May 2, 2021: Cessna T210M (N1215M), Oxford, IA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s capability and his decision to attempt to takeoff from a field, which resulted in… - [NTSB CEN17LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA148), Apr 5, 2017: Cessna T210M (N1215M), Detroit Lakes, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of the right main landing gear actuator for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal… 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.