- Date
- September 11, 1984, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Austin, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N761VPCessna T210M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840911047989A
- Case key
- 21462
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
During arrival, the plt reduced power on base leg for for a landing. When he realized his airspeed was dissipating faster than normal, he advanced the throttle, but the eng did not respond. The plt then switched fuel tanks, turned on the boost pump & applied full throttle, but the eng still did not respond. Subsequently, while flaring for a forced landing, the acft hit a tree & crashed. Both occupants were wearing their shoulder harnesses & were not injured. After the accident, the fuel primer was found unlocked & extended about 1-1/2 inches. During an operational check, the eng started & ran normally at 1500 RPM. When the primer was unlocked & partially opened, the eng began running rough, its speed decreased to 700 RPM & the eng emitted black smoke thru the exhaust. The manufacturer confirmed that at low RPM with the primer open, fuel would siphon into the manifold & cause the eng to run too rich. Originally, the primer had been installed as optional equipment for starts in extremely cold wx & was not listed in the flt manual check list.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N761VP
- Reported as
- Cessna T210M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21062555
- Airframe hours
- 965
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard A. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 2, 1984 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- AUS · Austin, TX
- Airport
- 3R3 · Executive, runway 18, 4,000 × 48 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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 551 total · 197 in this make and model · 432 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUS, 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.