# NTSB FTW97LA037: Cessna T210N, N6546N, Grand Prairie, TX, November 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 1996, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Grand Prairie, TX - Coordinates: 32.779167, -97.009429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7792&lon=-97.0094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20111/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA037 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to ensure that the fuel selector was positioned to a tank with sufficient fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's inadequate preflight, false indication from the right fuel quantity gauge, and the lack of suitable terrain in the forced landing area. ## 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 - final approach - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The purpose of his flight was to reposition the airplane from the Grand Prairie Airport to the Arlington Airport, about 7 miles to the southwest. The pilot stated that during the preflight, he could not locate a ladder to visually check the quantity of fuel, so he elected to rely on the fuel gages, which were reading above 1/4 full. The flight departed Grand Prairie VFR; however, the pilot was unable to land at the Arlington Airport due to localized instrument conditions in the vicinity of the airport. He elected to return to Grand Prairie and wait for the weather to improve. During a turn from base to final approach for runway 17, the engine lost power without warning. The pilot reported that after losing power, he 'did a brief checklist, but because of [the low] altitude, he had to choose a landing spot quickly.' The airplane touched down in a parking lot, overran the end of the parking lot, and impacted trees and bushes. During examination of the airplane at the site, 15 gallons of fuel were drained from the compromised left tank. The right fuel cell, which was not compromised, was found to be empty. During a post-accident engine run, the engine performed within limits. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 1996, at 0845 central standard time, a Cessna T210N airplane, N6546N, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Grand Prairie, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by Van Bortel Aircraft Inc., of Arlington, Texas, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the ferry flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed from the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport at approximately 0830. The pilot reported that the airplane had been stored at the operator's paint shop and storage facilities at the Grand Prairie Airport awaiting delivery to a new owner. The purpose of his flight was to reposition the airplane from the storage facility to the nearby Arlington Municipal Airport, approximately 7 miles to the southwest. The pilot stated that the preflight of the Cessna 210 included checking the quality of the fuel, as well as the quantity of engine oil and fuel on board. The pilot stated that he could not locate a ladder to visually check the quantity of fuel, so he elected to rely on the fuel gages. The pilot reported that both tanks were reading above 1/4 of the tank. The pilot further stated that he departed Grand Prairie VFR; however, he was unable to land at the Arlington Airport due to localized instrument conditions in the vicinity of the destination airport. The pilot elected to return to Grand Prairie to wait for the weather to improve. The pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 17. During the turn from base to final approach for runway 17, while configured with 10 degrees of flaps and the landing gear extended, the engine lost power without warning. The pilot added that after losing power, he "did a brief checklist, but because of [the low] altitude, he had to choose a landing spot quickly." Law enforcement personnel reported that the airplane touched down on the southwest side of a parking lot, overran the end of the parking lot and impacted trees and bushes. The accident site was approximately 3/4 mile from the landing threshold of runway 17 at the Grand Prairie Airport. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector at the site revealed that both wings sustained structural damage and the nose wheel collapsed. Fifteen gallons of fuel were drained from the compromised left tank. The right fuel cell, which was not compromised by impact, was found to be dry. The fuel selector was found in the "off" position. The wreckage was further examined after the airplane was recovered. The engine was run under the supervision of the NTSB on November 6, 1996. The engine performed within limits. See enclosed report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6546N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6546N), registered now, S/N 21063102, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 210-63102 - Airframe hours: 1978 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R9B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Van Bortel Aircraft - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 1996, 59 hours before - Departed: GPM - Destination: F54, ARLINGTON, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 636 total, 6 in this make and model, 608 as pilot in command, 112 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DFW, 25 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 19961105034809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961105034809A), Nov 5, 1996: Cessna T210N, Grand Prairie, TX, Substantial damage. Fuel starvation en route. Crash landed. Fuel selector on empty tank. Fuel in other. ADS not complied. AD violation. (-23) on November 5, 1996, at approximately… 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.