- Date
- April 6, 2001, 18:44 local (23:44 UTC)
- Place
- Abilene, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N555HGCessna T210M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010406007349A
- Case key
- 52052
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 loss of engine power while on final approach due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper use of the fuel selector. A contributing factor was the elevated runway edge.
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
While on final approach to the runway, the pilot "neglected to switch from the right empty tank to [the] left tank, which was 1/2 full." The pilot stated that at about 100 feet above the ground, on short final, the engine "ran out of gas." He switched to the left fuel tank, "hit the boost pump, full throttle and mixture;" however, he could not restart the engine. A forced landing was initiated, and the airplane touched down approximately 30 feet short of the runway. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed as it hit the 6-inch lip of the runway pavement. The airplane came to a stop upright on the runway about 65 yards from the approach end.
Factual narrative
On April 6, 2001, at 1844 central daylight time, a Cessna T210M airplane, N555HG, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during landing near Abilene, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Dallas Air Park Airport, Dallas, Texas, at 1700.
The pilot reported that while on final approach for runway 17, after receiving clearance to land, he "neglected to switch from the right empty tank to [the] left tank which was 1/2 full." He stated that at about 100 feet above the ground, on short final, the engine "ran out of gas." He switched to the left fuel tank, "hit the boost pump, full throttle and mixture;" however, he could not restart the engine. A forced landing was initiated, and the airplane touched down approximately 30 feet short of the runway. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed as it hit the 6-inch lip of the runway pavement. The airplane came to a stop upright on the runway, about 65 yards from the approach end.
The FAA inspector reported that the nose landing gear was folded aft, and the firewall was damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N555HG
- Reported as
- Cessna T210M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21062929
- Airframe hours
- 3,591
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pete G. Ledbetter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- F69 · Dallas, TX
- Destination
- ABI · Abilene, TX
- Airport
- ABI · Abilene Regional, runway 17R, 7,202 × 150 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 25, 1999
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,138 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,044 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 18 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
- Observed at
- ABI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.