# NTSB FTW96LA328: Cessna T210L, N210RE, Santa Fe, NM, July 20, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 1996, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, NM - Location: 35.6299° N, 106.0811° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SANTA FE RGNL (SAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6299&lon=-106.0811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 94-12-08](https://openairdocs.org/ad/94-12-08) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 19929 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19929/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA328 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper decision to continue the flight after noting the low fuel quantity indication, which resulted in fuel starvation before reaching the airport. 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, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign - object - fence - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis After a cross country flight of 3 hours and 25 minutes, the airplane was on the base leg for landing when the engine lost power. During the ensuing forced landing on a road, the left wing struck a road sign, and the airplane departed the road and collided with a wire fence. About 2 hours and 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot noted that the left fuel quantity indicator was indicating a low fuel quantity. The pilot stated that he discounted the low fuel quantity indication since he had visually confirmed both tanks were full prior to departure, and he elected to continue the flight. The fuel selector was found positioned on the right tank, and 1 quart of fuel was drained from the right tank. The left fuel tank was ruptured; the fuel quantity could not be determined. No evidence of fuel leakage was found on the lower or upper wing surfaces, the aircraft belly, or inside the engine compartment. Six months prior to the accident, the fuel gauges had been calibrated to ensure that they indicated empty when the fuel tanks were empty. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 1996, at 1610 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N210RE, registered to and operated by a private owner, received substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of power near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight. The airplane departed from Dallas, Texas, at 1345 central daylight time. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he "checked both tanks visually, confirmed they were full" prior to departure. After flying on the left tank for 1 hour, and then the right tank for 1 hour, the pilot switched again to the left tank. While on the left tank, the pilot "began to note that the left tank fuel quantity indicator was indicating low fuel quantity." After 45 minutes on the left tank, the pilot switched back to the right tank. "At that point," the airplane "was approximately 8 n. mi. east of Santa Rosa, New Mexico." The Santa Rosa Municipal Airport has a 4,400 foot paved runway and fuel service is available. The pilot stated that he "discounted" the low fuel quantity indication "since I had visually checked both tanks" and "decided to continue on to Santa Fe since I was only approximately 68 n. mi. south east." At a flight time of 3 hours and 25 minutes, while on base leg for landing on runway 20 at Santa Fe, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to reach the airport and performed a forced landing to a road. The left wing struck a road sign, and the airplane "veered" off the road, traveled down an embankment, and collided with a wire fence. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and reported the left wing was damaged across the entire leading edge, and the left fuel tank was ruptured. "Just over 1 quart" of fuel was drained from the intact right tank, and the fuel selector was positioned on the right tank. No evidence of fuel leakage was found on the lower or upper wing surfaces, the aircraft belly, or inside the engine compartment. The pilot stated that he "was aware of the fuel quantity indication through out the flight but considered the timed fuel burn more accurate based on training received during checkout in this aircraft and safety reports issued concerning inaccuracies of the fuel quantity indicators." Review of the maintenance records revealed that, on February 16, 1996, a logbook entry was made indicating that the fuel system calibration required by Airworthiness Directive (AD) 94-12-08 was accomplished. Compliance with the AD required that the airplane be defueled and the fuel gauges then checked, and adjusted if necessary, to ensure that they indicated empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N210RE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N210RE-2002-07-03), registration cancelled 2002-07-03, S/N 21060516, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210L - Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 210-60516 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-H 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hugh W. Ward - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1996 - Departed: RBD, DALLAS, TX - Destination: SAF - Airport: SAF, Santa Fe County Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 24 in this make and model, 1,353 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SAF, 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 19960720033229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960720033229A), Jul 20, 1996: Cessna T210L, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. Low fuel en route ignored beleived gauge error. Lost power on base. Landed road. Hit sign and fence. Fuel exhaustion (-23) a/c lost power while on approach to… ## Other investigations on N210RE (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 LAX02FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA049), Dec 14, 2001: Cessna T210L (N210RE), San Jacinto, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of situational awareness and his failure to adhere to the prescribed instrument approach procedures, including the track and altitudes flown. The underlying reasons for the pilot's… 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.