# NTSB DEN91LA029: Cessna T210N, N1604U, Aspen, CO, December 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1990, 11:23 local (18:23 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Coordinates: 39.130241, -106.839866 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1302&lon=-106.8399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18062
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18062/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA029

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS RESULTANT FROM FAULTY FUEL CAPS AND FUEL SYPHONING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - siphoning (cause)
  - fuel system,cap - failure,partial (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, company/operator management (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - raising of flaps - intentional, pilot in command
  - gear retraction - intentional, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - none suitable
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED ENGLEWOOD, CO, AND FLEW TO LAS VEGAS, NV. IN 4.7 HRS. IT TOOK 80 GALLONS OF FUEL TO TOP OFF THE TANKS. THE PILOT THEN FLEW TO VAN NUYS, CA, IN 1.5 HRS. THE TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF AGAIN, REQUIRING 25.3 GALLONS. THE NEXT DAY, DUE TO FAVORABLE TAILWINDS, THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER PLANNED TO FLY TO ASPEN, CO, NONSTOP. DURING DESCENT INTO ASPEN AFTER 3.4 HOURS OF FLYING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD 2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK; THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE AIRPLANE OPERATOR REPORTED WORK HAD RECENTLY BEEN DONE ON THE FUEL FILLER CAPS BECAUSE WATER HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO THE FUEL TANKS. THE OPERATOR ALSO REPORTED FUEL SIPHONING FROM THE FILLER CAPS. FAA HAD ISSUED AN ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ADDRESSING THESE SUBJECTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1604U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1604U-1991-02-05), registration cancelled 1991-02-05, S/N 21064708 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21064708
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. Thomas Clark Assoc., Inc.
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: ASE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ASE, Aspen-Pitkin Co/Sardy Fld

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,661 total, 50 in this make and model, 7,711 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 2 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 19901229056419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901229056419A), Dec 29, 1990: Cessna T210N, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. Exhausted fuel two miles short of destination after departing. Fuel siphoned from leaky fuel caps. Recent repair.

## Other investigations on N1604U (1)

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 SEA86LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA022), Nov 11, 1985: Cessna T210N (N1604U), Overton, NV, substantial damage

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.

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