# NTSB ERA15LA258: Cessna T210L, N59024, Oneonta, NY, July 7, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2015, 20:00 local (Jul 7, 2015, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Oneonta, NY - Coordinates: 42.633335, -74.066665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6333&lon=-74.0667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA/FSDO, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 91505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91505/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91505 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA258 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, in preparation for a local flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included checking the fuel gauges, but that he did not look into the fuel tanks to verify the fuel quantity. He recalled that both fuel gauges indicated below 1/2 full. The engine start, taxi, and run-up were performed uneventfully; however, several minutes after takeoff, the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a cornfield about 6 miles north of the departure airport. The forced landing was performed with the landing gear retracted, and the airplane came to rest upright, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Due to injuries sustained in the accident, the pilot had no further recollection of the accident flight. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left main fuel tank had about 5 gallons of fuel remaining and that the right main fuel tank had no fuel. Additionally, the fuel selector was found positioned to the right main fuel tank. Further, no fuel was found in the fuel line connecting the gascolator to the engine-driven fuel pump and in the fuel line connecting the engine-driven fuel pump to the fuel flow divider. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2015, about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N59024, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field in Oneonta, New York, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from Oneonta Municipal Airport (N66), Oneonta, New York, about 1950.According to the pilot's written statement, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane that included checking the fuel gauges, but he did not look into the fuel tanks to verify fuel quantity. He recalled that both fuel gauges indicated below one-half full. The engine start, taxi, and engine run-up were performed uneventfully. Due to injuries sustained in the accident, the pilot had no further recollection of the accident flight. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported to first responders that several minutes after takeoff, the engine lost all power. He was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a cornfield about 6 miles north of N66. The forced landing was performed with the landing gear retracted and the airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest nose-down and left wing low. The inspector observed substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The inspector also observed approximately 5 gallons of fuel in the left main fuel tank and did not observe any fuel in the right main fuel tank. He added that the fuel selector was found positioned to the right main fuel tank. The inspector disconnected the fuel line from the gascolator to the engine driven fuel pump and did not observe any fuel. He also disconnected the fuel line from the engine driven fuel pump to the fuel flow divider and did not observe any fuel. Data were successfully downloaded from an onboard digital engine monitor. Review of the data revealed that approximately 9 minutes, 30 seconds after engine start, the exhaust gas temperature for all six cylinders decreased rapidly, from about 1,500 degrees F to 250 degrees F. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59024](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59024-2016-08-09), registration cancelled 2016-08-09, S/N 21060030, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L - Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21060030 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 5422 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schoene Edward C - Registered owner: Schoene Edward C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2015, 3 hours before - Departed: N66, Oneonta, NY - Destination: N66, Oneonta, NY - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,338 total, 1,022 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: BGM, 30 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 20150706009179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150706009179A), Jul 6, 2015: Cessna T210L, Milford, NY, Destroyed. 07/06/15 N59024 departed N66. Shortly after take off the aircraft experienced engine trouble and crashed landed in a field approximately 6 miles north of N66… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91505. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Engine Monitor Data (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Monitor%20Data-Master.PDF - Excerpts From Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20From%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 5, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.