# NTSB FTW97LA066: Cessna 210N, N6555Y, Kerrville, TX, December 19, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 19, 1996, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Kerrville, TX - Coordinates: 30.159816, -99.35012 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1598&lon=-99.3501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20131/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA066 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a 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 - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning while in cruise flight at 3,500 feet. The pilot reported that he switched tanks and activated the fuel boost pump to no avail. He intended to land on a road, but due to obstructions on the road, he executed a forced landing to an adjacent open field. The accident site was approximately 10 miles west of the destination airport. During the landing roll, in what turned out to be 'a very rocky field,' the outboard portion of the left wing impacted a tree, and both main landing gear were torn from the airframe. The pilot stated that before his departure from Rocksprings, Texas, the airplane's fuel totalizer was indicating 18.8 gallons of fuel remaining. The fuel gages were reading 1/4 in the left tank and between 1/8 and 1/4 in the right tank. The pilot calculated that the distance between the two airports was 56.6 nautical miles, and he intended to use his Loran to fly direct. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and only residual fuel remained in the left fuel tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the right tank position. ## Factual narrative On December 19, 1996, at 1445 central standard time, a Cessna 210N, N6555Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Kerrville, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by a private owner, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Edwards County Airport in Rocksprings, Texas, at approximately 1420. According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning while in cruise flight at 3,500 feet MSL. The pilot reported that he switched tanks and activated the fuel boost pump to no avail. The pilot intended to land on a road, but due to obstructions on the road, he executed a forced landing to an adjacent open field. The accident site was approximately 10 miles west of the destination airport. The pilot added that during the landing roll, in what turned out to be "a very rocky field," the outboard portion of the left wing impacted a tree, and "both main landing gear were torn from the airframe resulting in structural damage." The pilot further stated that prior to his departure from Rocksprings, Texas, the airplane's fuel totalizer was indicating 18.8 gallons of fuel remaining. He reported that his fuel gages were reading 1/4 on the left tank and between 1/8 and 1/4 in the right tank. The pilot had calculated that the distance between the two airports was 56.6 nautical miles, and he intended to use his Loran to fly direct. The wreckage was examined by two FAA inspectors on December 20, 1996. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and only residual fuel remained in the left fuel tank. The fuel selector valve was found in the right tank position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6555Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6555Y), registered now, S/N 21064436, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210N - Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 210-64436 - Airframe hours: 2730 - Engines: Continental IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John B. Ebner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 1996, 30 hours before - Departed: R69, ROCKSPRINGS, TX - Destination: ERV, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 28 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 20 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 19961219039749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961219039749A), Dec 19, 1996: Cessna 210N, Kerrville, TX, Substantial damage. (.4)According to the pilot, the engine lost power without warning while in cruise flight at 3,500 feet. The pilot reported that he switched tanks and activated… ## Other investigations on N6555Y (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 MIA91LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA153), May 26, 1991: Cessna 210N (N6555Y), Fernandina Bch, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN PROPER ASSISTANCE WHILE TAXIING THE AIRPLANE NEAR A PARKED AIRPLANE. 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.