- Date
- September 17, 1994, 09:03 local (14:03 UTC)
- Place
- Elkhart, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N732HSCessna 210
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940917028239A
- Case key
- 9686
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper use of the fuel selector position which resulted in fuel starvation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff the airplane's engine stopped running. The airplane made a forced landing in a corn field. The pilot said he had taken off on an empty fuel tank and swithched to the full fuel tank after the engine stopped running. The on-scene investigation confirmed the pilot's statement.
Factual narrative
On September 17, 1994, at 0903 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 210L, N732HS, registered to Clement J. Smith of Elkhart, Indiana, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an off airport forced landing in a corn field following a pilot reported loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries, a second passenger reported serious injuries. The flight departed Elkhart, Indiana, at 0900 est.
According to the pilot's written statement accompanying NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the accident airplane's engine stopped running "...immediately after takeoff... ." The pilot said he "...turned the [fuel] selector to the right tank..." after the engine stopped running. The pilot said, "My takeoff was on the left tank which was obviously out of fuel."
The on-scene investigation confirmed the pilot's written statement; the left fuel tank was empty and the fuel tank selector was on the right fuel tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N732HS
- Reported as
- Cessna 210
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21061531
- Engine
- Continental IO-520L, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Clement J. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 3CI · Mishawaka Pilot'S Club
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,600 total · 1,200 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EKM, 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.