# NTSB FTW93LA082: Cessna 210D, N3876Y, Hillsboro, TX, February 10, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 1993, 22:30 local (Feb 10, 1993, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, TX - Coordinates: 32.000534, -97.110046 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0005&lon=-97.1100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18695/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA082 ## Probable cause THE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT ON A DARK NIGHT VFR FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND AFTER MANUALLY LOWERING THE GEAR, EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A MUDDY PLOWED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR UNUSABLE FUEL. THERE WAS NO TANK COMPROMISE OR FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE SITE OR EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE ON THE AIRFRAME OR WINGS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF WITH 56 GALLONS OF FUEL ABOUT 1.2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS TEST RUN AND OPERATED NORMALLY. ## Factual narrative On Tuesday, February 9, 1993, at approximately 2300 central standard time, a Cessna 210D, N3876Y, was substantially damaged when the nose gear collapsed during a forced landing near Hillsboro, Texas. The forced landing was executed following a complete loss of engine power. The airplane, owned by a private individual and loaned to the commercial pilot, was on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. At 0003, the Hill County Sheriff's Office received a complaint from a citizen who stated that a "suspicious person" had come to his front door. Upon arrival at the residence, the Sheriff's deputy found the pilot who said he had crashed his airplane in a nearby field and that he had lost fuel pressure. At first, the pilot refused medical treatment, however, due to his apparent injuries and his disoriented state, the deputy elected to call an EMS unit and have him transported to the hospital. He was taken to the Hill County Hospital where he was treated and released. The deputy stated that he smelled alcohol on the pilot and felt that he was intoxicated. Attempts by the NTSB and FAA to locate the pilot have been unsuccessful to date. Examination of the airplane indicated it had landed in a muddy plowed field and that the nose gear had collapsed and it nosed over. One gallon of fuel was found in the right tank and 2 gallons were found in the left tank. There was no evidence of tank compromise or fuel spills at the site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3876Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3876Y-2011-06-18), registration cancelled 2011-06-18, S/N 21058376 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210D - Registry model: [Cessna 210D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (registry code 2073414) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058376 - Airframe hours: 2564 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A(9) 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lowe, Don E., doing business as Lowe'S Flying Service - Registered owner: Shank, Gerald N. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1992, 28 hours before - Departed: NONE, CANTON, TX - Destination: F60, MCGREGOR, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,830 total, 530 in this make and model, 16,750 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 170° at 15 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ACT, 15 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 19930209002249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930209002249A), Feb 9, 1993: Cessna 210D, Hillsboro, TX, Substantial damage. Engine quit at night ten miles off course. Nosed over in muddy field. No useable fuel on board. ## Other investigations on N3876Y (1) 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 UNK64X2159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2159), Jun 6, 1964: Cessna 210 (N3876Y), Jamaica, NY, substantial damage 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.