- Date
- August 26, 1993, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Springdale, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N6142YCessna T210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930826031429A
- Case key
- 18821
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the improper use of the fuel selector. Factors were the pilot's failure to follow the checklist, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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
The pilot calculated, but did not visually confirm, that the fuel cells contained 44 gallons of fuel prior to departing on a 30 minute flight. Both legs of the flight were flown on the right tank, and as the airplane was on final approach, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the left tank and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. The pilot stated that the engine failed to restart due to fuel vapor lock. The right fuel cell was found to be dry, while fuel was available on the left fuel cell. The airplane impacted a pole and came to rest in a parking lot approximately three quarters of a mile from the runway threshold. The manufacturer's before landing checklist called for use of the fullest tank for landing.
Factual narrative
On August 26, 1993, at 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N6142Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the Springdale Municipal Airport, Springdale, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight.
According to the tower operator, the airplane was executing a straight in approach from the north, and had been cleared to land on Runway 18, when the pilot called and stated that his engine lost power. The airplane was approximately one mile out when the call was made.
After impacting a pole and several pieces of construction equipment, the airplane came to rest in the parking lot for a food processing plant, approximately three quarters of a mile from the runway threshold.
The pilot calculated that he had 44 gallons of fuel on board prior to departing on the first leg of the flight. Fuel quantity; however, was not visually checked by the pilot. Fuel for both legs of the flight was drawn from the right tank. The pilot added that after the engine lost power on final approach, he switched the fuel selector from the right to the left tank, while activating the auxiliary fuel pump. On the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the engine failed to restart due to fuel vapor lock. The right fuel cell was found to be dry, while fuel was available in the left fuel cell.
The manufacturer's Before Landing Checklist from the Pilot's Handbook (enclosed), recommends placing the fuel selector valve in the fullest tank position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6142Y
- Reported as
- Cessna T210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21064266
- Airframe hours
- 2,140
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Phillips, Hubert P. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 3, 1993 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- JLN · Joplin, MO
- Airport
- ASG · Springdale Municipal, runway 18, 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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,045 total · 1,680 in this make and model · 1,950 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FYV, 17 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.