# NTSB FTW02LA208: Cessna 210A, N9466X, Sherman, TX, July 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2002, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Sherman, TX - Coordinates: 33.63639, -96.59333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6364&lon=-96.5933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 55228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55228/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55228 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA208 ## Probable cause fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - reason for occurrence undetermined - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - congested/confined area - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot ascertained that each wing fuel tank contained approximately 14 gallons of fuel before departing for a 10 minute flight. The pilot reported that the fuel selector was in the right tank position for the entire flight. The airplane was on approach to the destination airport, in a left bank, at 800 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times from both fuel tanks; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a vacant parking lot adjacent to a gas station, two miles northeast of the destination airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the right tank position and the fuel boost pump was in the "ON" position. The left fuel tank did not contain any fuel and the right fuel tank contained 13 gallons of fuel. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2002, approximately 0850 central daylight time, a Cessna 210A single-engine airplane, N9466X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while on approach to the Sherman Municipal Airport, Sherman, Texas. The airplane was registered to Superior Software Solutions, Inc., and was operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the McKinney Municipal Airport, McKinney, Texas, at 0837, and was destined for Sherman. According to the pilot, he ascertained that each fuel tank contained approximately 14 gallons of fuel by dipping the tanks before departing from McKinney. The pilot found no anomalies during the preflight inspection and departed for the 10 minute flight to Sherman. The pilot reported that the fuel selector was in the right tank position for the entire flight. The airplane was on approach to the Sherman Municipal Airport, in a left bank, at 800 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times from each of the fuel tanks; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a vacant parking lot adjacent to a gas station, two miles northeast of the Sherman Municipal Airport. The airplane came to rest upright. The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the engine fire wall was wrinkled and the left wing was damaged. The fuel selector was in the right tank position and the fuel boost pump was in the "ON" position. The left fuel tank did not contain any fuel, and the right fuel tank contained 13 gallons of fuel. The fuel system has a capacity of 84.0 gallons; 42.0 gallons in each wing tank, of which 2.0 gallons is unusable in any flight attitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9466X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9466X-2005-12-02), registration cancelled 2005-12-02, S/N 21057766, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210A - Registry model: [Cessna 210A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210a) (registry code 2073408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21057766 - Airframe hours: 3093 - Engines: Continental IO-470-E-13 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stephen M. Sims, doing business as N/A - Registered owner: Superior Software Solutions Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2001, 89.9 hours before - Departed: TKI, McKinney, TX - Destination: SWI, Sherman, TX - Airport: SWI, Sherman Municipal, runway 16, 4,005 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 7, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 585 total, 284 in this make and model, 515 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: F39, 7 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 20020716016459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020716016459A), Jul 16, 2002: Cessna 210A, Sherman, TX, No damage. (-23) On Tuesday 16, 2002 a Cessna 210 piloted by michael sims of [privacy data omitted] was on approach to Sherman municipal (swi) from mckinney airport… ## Other investigations on N9466X (2) 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 FTW98LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA226), Apr 29, 1998: Cessna 210A (N9466X), Weatherford, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The restricted movement of the elevator control system by a bolt. - [NTSB CHI71FBD61](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBD61), Mar 28, 1971: Cessna 210A (N9466X), Morris, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55228. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Cessna 210 Owner's Manual (Excerpt) (item 2, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20210%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20(Excerpt)-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.