# NTSB DEN06CA079: Cessna T210N, N7353C, Santa Fe, NM, May 29, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2006, 13:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, NM - Coordinates: 35.616943, -106.089164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6169&lon=-106.0892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63807/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06CA079 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to refuel the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis Prior to departure, the pilot "did a preflight in the hangar, including removing the cowling and everything seemed fine." Based on the time of a previous flight and fuel consumption, the pilot estimated the airplane had two hours of fuel on board. The pilot asked the line personnel to pull the airplane out of the hangar, and he would refuel when he returned. After flying a practice instrument approach, the pilot switched fuel tanks and the pilot interpreted the fuel indicator displayed 22 gallons. Based on that fuel level, the pilot flew north away from the airport to set up for another instrument approach. During the pilot's next instrument scan, he noticed a low fuel indication. The pilot immediately turned toward the airport and reported to air traffic control he was low on fuel. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the pilot intiated a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the empennage was separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was buckled. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane's fuel tanks contained no evidence of fuel. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, prior to departure, he "did a preflight in the hangar, including removing the cowling and everything seemed fine." Based on the time of a previous flight and fuel consumption, the pilot estimated the airplane had two hours of fuel on board. The pilot asked the line personnel to pull the airplane out of the hangar, and he would refuel when he returned. After flying a practice instrument approach, the pilot switched fuel tanks and the pilot interpreted the fuel indicator displayed 22 gallons. Based on that fuel level, the pilot flew north away from the airport to set up for another instrument approach. During the pilot's next instrument scan, he noticed a low fuel indication. The pilot immediately turned toward the airport and reported to air traffic control he was low on fuel. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the pilot initiated a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the empennage was separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was buckled. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane's fuel tanks contained no evidence of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7353C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7353C-2006-09-06), registration cancelled 2006-09-06, S/N 21063943, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 63943 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520R reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: BLH Development Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SAF, Santa Fe, NM - Destination: SAF, Santa Fe, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,081 total, 355 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060529017929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060529017929A), May 29, 2006: Cessna T210N, Espanola, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) The transcript shows that the PIC had been practicing several practice instrument approaches to saf since 1230L, at 1320L the PIC initiated a GPS rny 22… 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.