# NTSB FTW83LA192: Cessna 210K, N8234M, Austin, TX, April 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1983, 20:39 local (Apr 15, 1983, 02:39 UTC)
- Place: Austin, TX
- Coordinates: 30.259965, -97.710166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2600&lon=-97.7102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA192

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)
  - notams - not attained, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKING OFF (AT 1740) ON HIS RETURN FLT, THE PLT GOT A WX BRIEFING & CHECKED THE NOTAMS, BUT DID NOT REFUEL THE ACFT. THERE WERE NO NOTAMS FOR THE SAN MARCOS ARPT. DURING ARRIVAL AT SAN MARCOS, TX, NO RWY LIGHTS WERE VISIBLE. THE PLT CIRCLED FOR 15 TO 20 MIN UNTIL HE VERIFIED THE RWY LIGHTS WERE INOP, THEN DIVERTED TO AUSTIN,TX. HE STATED THAT ON FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER WITH THE L MAIN TANK INDICATING 1/3 FULL & THE R TANK 1/4 FULL. HE STATED HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENG. DURING THE LANDING ONTO A BOULEVARD, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED & THE R MAIN GEAR SEPARATED. A PASSING VEHICLE RAN OVER THE SEPARATED GEAR WHICH RUPTURED ITS FUEL TANK. THE PLT TOLD THE FBO THAT HE MADE THE APCH USING THE R TANK, THEN WHEN HE LOST POWER, HE SWITCHED TO THE L TANK & BACK TO THE R TANK. LATER, HE STATED HE MADE THE APCH USING THE L TANK. THE ARPT MANAGER AT SAN MARCOS SAID A NOTAM WAS CALLED IN ON 1/25/83 THAT THE RWY LIGHTS WOULD BE INOP INDEFINITELY, BUT NO RECORD OF THIS CALL WAS AVAILABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8234M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210K
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21059234
- Airframe hours: 1720
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kirby W. Perry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 1983, 5 hours before
- Departed: MLU, MONROE, LA
- Destination: SAN MARCOS, TX
- Airport: AUS, Robert Mueller, runway 35L, 5,006 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 961 total, 821 in this make and model, 851 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830414015989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830414015989A), Apr 14, 1983: Cessna 210K, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was forced to divert to another airport because of no lights. Engine quit on approach causing crash.

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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