# NTSB FTW92LA031: Cessna 210, N9503T, Groves, TX, December 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 1, 1991, 15:56 local (21:56 UTC)
- Place: Groves, TX
- Coordinates: 29.940761, -93.91082 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9408&lon=-93.9108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18413
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18413/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA031

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH PRECIPITATED THE FORCED LANDING DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION WHEN HE RECOGNIZED THAT FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS A POSSIBILITY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence
  - object - fence post

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE ENCOUNTERED THE FORECAST HEAD WINDS EN ROUTE AND HE INTENTIONALLY RAN THE LEFT TANK DRY AND WAS FLYING ON THE RIGHT TANK DURING THE DESCENT WHEN IT ALSO RAN DRY. HE STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE TANK CHANGE HE THOUGHT ABOUT REQUESTING AN ALTERNATE, BUT DID NOT. AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE THE PILOT WAS GIVEN RADAR VECTORS TO THE FINAL LOCALIZER APPROACH COURSE OF A NEARBY AIRPORT; HOWEVER, HE HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. HE BROKE OUT AT 700 FEET AND WAS ABLE TO LAND ON A PLAYING FIELD ADJACENT TO A CHURCH IN AN URBAN AREA. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 234 FEET, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BASEBALL BACK STOP AND CAME TO REST IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. THE PILOT'S FUEL CALCULATIONS INDICATED THAT HE HAD 6.5 HOURS TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, WHILE ACTUAL FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AFTER 5.5 HOURS. THE LEFT TANK RAN DRY AT 2.6 HOURS AND THE RIGHT RAN DRY AT 2.9 HOURS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9503T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9503T-1992-08-26), registration cancelled 1992-08-26, S/N 57303 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210
- Registry model: [Cessna 210](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210) (registry code 2073402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 210-57303
- Airframe hours: 2810
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-E 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hawkins, Thomas R.
- Registered owner: Hawkins, Thomas R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1991, 19 hours before
- Departed: 6A0, CARTERSVILLE, GA
- Destination: AXH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 26 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BPT, 3 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 19911201053799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911201053799A), Dec 1, 1991: Cessna 210, Beaumont Port A, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Unable vector airport. Crashed in parking lot. No usable fuel on board. No IFR fuel reserve.

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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