# NTSB FTW95LA385: Cessna 210F, N1851F, Montrose, CO, September 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1995, 08:23 local (14:23 UTC) - Place: Montrose, CO - Coordinates: 38.490882, -107.869926 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4909&lon=-107.8699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA385 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19576/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA385 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INATTENTIVENESS TO THE LOW FUEL SUPPLY AND HIS FAILURE TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE 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, maneuvering - fuel management - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SMALL FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. A FIREMAN NOTED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT TANK, BUT NO FUEL LEAKING FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE SALVAGE COMPANY SAID THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE ENGINE FUEL LINE, NOR WAS THERE ANY FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK LINE. WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE BOOST PUMP TURNED ON, NO FUEL WAS EJECTED. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 3.9 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1995, at 0823 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210F, N1851F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Montrose, Colorado. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Montrose, CO, approximately 0725 MDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The pilot said he did three touch and go landings on runway 13 when the active runway was switched to runway 31. Two airplanes were waiting to take off and the pilot elected to make "a wide clockwise turn off my crosswind pattern and circle back" to the runway. The engine lost power during this turn. The airplane was over the town of Montrose and the only open area was a small field next to a drive-in theater. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane collided with trees and impacted terrain. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector that he had been flying on the left fuel tank and when the engine lost power, he switched the fuel selector to the right tank but the engine did not respond. The owner told the inspector that there was fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident. A fireman said he observed fuel leaking from the right tank, but no fuel leaking from the left tank. The manager of the salvage company that retrieved the airplane said there was no fuel in the engine fuel line when it was disconnected. Additionally, he found no fuel in the left fuel tank line. When the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank and the boost pump turned on, no fuel was ejected. Records indicated that, excluding the accident flight, the airplane had flown 3.9 hours since it was last refueled. Four days after the accident, the engine was functionally tested under the supervision of the FAA inspector. Drawing from the fuel remaining in the right fuel tank, the engine operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1851F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1851F-1999-01-15), registration cancelled 1999-01-15, S/N 21058751 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210F - Registry model: [Cessna 210F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210f) (registry code 2073418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 210-58751 - Airframe hours: 5068 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: William N. Patterson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1994, 180 hours before - Departed: MTJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 48 total, 23 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MTJ, 1 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 19950909028179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950909028179A), Sep 9, 1995: Cessna 210F, Montrose, CO, Substantial damage. Lost power in pattern. Struck trees. Run left tank dry. Unable restart on tank with fuel. Typical for early 210. 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.