# NTSB CHI94LA159: Cessna T210M, N6737B, Burlington, IA, May 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 1994, 18:57 local (23:57 UTC) - Place: Burlington, IA - Coordinates: 40.799728, -91.119644 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7997&lon=-91.1196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9528/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA159 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion resulting from the failure of the pilot to refuel en route. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE LINEMAN AT LAMAR, COLORADO TO FILL BOTH TANKS TO 1 INCH BELOW THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE PILOT DID NOT DIP THE TANKS AND BASED HIS FUEL CALCULATIONS ON A PRESUMED AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED LAMAR WITH A DESTINATION OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS. THE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE NEAR BURLINGTON, IOWA, 60 MILES SHORT OF THE INTENDED DESTINATION. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, AND 3 OUNCES WERE RECOVERED FROM THE LEFT TANK. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 1994, about 1857 central daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N6737B, was destroyed when it collided with trees during a forced landing near Burlington Airport, Burlington, Iowa. The airline transport certificated pilot was seriously injured, one passenger received serious injuries, and two passengers received minor injuries. The personal flight originated at Lamar, Colorado, at 1330 mountain daylight time, with an intended destination of Peoria, Illinois. An IFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot stated he instructed the lineman at Lamar to fill both tanks to 1 inch below the top. He never dipped the tanks after they were fueled, and all fuel calculations were made on an approximate amount of fuel. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan while airborne, at 1736. At 1808, he was cleared direct to Peoria. After crossing over Burlington, Iowa, the pilot stated he was preparing for the ILS approach to Peoria when the engine lost power. He switched tanks and restored the power to the engine, and noticed that both tanks indicated empty. At 1845, the pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and requested vectors to the nearest airport. At this time, he also reported to air traffic control that he had a "sick passenger" on board. Air traffic control provided him vectors to the Burlington Airport. At 1855, the pilot broadcast a mayday with an engine failure. The pilot made a forced landing 5 miles southeast of the Burlington Airport. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in the right tank, and approximately 3 ounces of fuel in the left tank. The fuel selector was on the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6737B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6737B-1995-09-12), registration cancelled 1995-09-12, S/N 21062827 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062827 - Airframe hours: 4303 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carl L. Meiner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1994, 21 hours before - Departed: LAA, LAMAR, CO - Destination: PIA, PEORIA, IL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BRL, 5 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 19940514010889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940514010889A), May 14, 1994: Cessna T210M, Burlington, IA, Destroyed. Ordered tanks topped off en route fuel stop. Failed to visual check. Ran out of fuel 60 miles short of destination. 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.