DEN04LA025

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210K · Deming, NM · November 30, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 30, 2003, 11:35 local (18:35 UTC)
Place
Deming, NM
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N81PCCessna T210K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 30, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20031130033599A
Case key
58395

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision. Factors contributing to the accident were fuel exhaustion and the fence.

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.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalApproach
In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionFactor
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - fenceFactor
Altitude - low
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency descent/landing
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The pilot was on approach to the airport. At 5 nautical miles from the airport, the airplane was approximately 4,000 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the landing gear, set 30 degrees of flaps, and initiated several "S" turns to lose altitude. The pilot said that at 2 miles from the runway, he switched his fuel selector to the right fuel tank, which had more fuel. The pilot continued the "S" turns until he was 1/3 mile from the end of the runway. When he applied power to level off, there was no response. The pilot selected a field to the right of his final approach course. The airplane touched down approximately 20 feet short of his intended field. The airplane struck a wrought iron fence, collapsing the nose gear and the left main landing gear. An examination of the engine showed no evidence of fuel in the fuel distribution manifold or fuel lines. An examination of the fuel tanks showed some fuel in the right fuel tank. An examination of the airplane's, engine controls and remaining systems revealed no anomalies.

Factual narrative

On November 30, 2003, at approximately 1135 mountain standard time, a Cessna T210K, N81PC, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing near Deming, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal, cross-country flight from Oakland, California, to Deming, New Mexico, was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight originated at 0500 Pacific standard time.

The pilot reported he was on approach into the Deming Municipal Airport (DMN). At 5 nautical miles from the airport, the airplane was approximately 4,000 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the landing gear, 30 degrees of flaps, and initiated several "S" turns to lose altitude. The pilot said that at 2 miles from the runway, he switched his fuel selector to the right fuel tank, which had more fuel. The pilot continued the "S" turns until he was 1/3 mile from the end of the runway. When he applied power to level off, there was no response. The pilot selected a field to the right of his final approach course. The airplane touched down approximately 20 feet short of his intended field. The airplane struck a wrought iron fence, collapsing the nose gear and the left main landing gear.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper and lower cowlings. The firewall was crushed upward and bent aft. The propeller blades were bent aft at mid-span. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine showed no evidence of fuel in the fuel distribution manifold or fuel lines. An examination of the fuel tanks showed some fuel in the right fuel tank. An examination of the airplane's, engine controls and remaining systems revealed no anomalies.

Aircraft

Registration
N81PC
Reported as
Cessna T210K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
T210K59381
Airframe hours
5,320.3
Engine
Continental TSIO520R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John H. Austin
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 4, 2003 · 163.7 hours before
Departed
OAK · Oakland, CA
Destination
DMN · Deming, NM
Airport
DMN · Deming Municipal Airport, runway 8, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
January 15, 2003
Seat
Left
Flight hours
5,787 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 5,637 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 0 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 18 °F
Altimeter
30.22 inHg
Observed at
DMN, 1 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.

Other investigations on N81PC · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.