# NTSB FTW99LA130: Cessna 210A, N9404X, Bay City, TX, April 30, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 1999, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Bay City, TX - Location: 28.9835° N, 95.9599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bay City, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9835&lon=-95.9599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46215/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA130 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate management of fuel and his failure to follow the pre-landing checklist resulting in the loss of engine power as a result of fuel starvation. Factors were the pilot's physiological condition and 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 - downwind - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - physiological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis While on a cross-country flight, the pilot became physically impaired by stomach pains and diverted to a nearby airport to use the restroom. The pilot forgot to switch fuel tanks during the pre-landing check and on downwind, the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and turned on the fuel pump; however, the propeller stopped windmilling and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. During the forced landing in a field, the airplane impacted a 5 foot drainage ditch. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 1999, approximately 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 210A airplane, N9404X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Bay City, Texas. The private pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal cross-country flight. The flight originated from Freer, Texas, at 1400 and was en route to Baytown, Texas. During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that after departing Freer, Texas, he "started experiencing stomach pains and needed to use the restroom." He elected to land at the Bay City Municipal Airport near Bay City, instead of continuing to Baytown. The pilot added that he forgot to switch his tanks during his pre-landing check, and on downwind the engine lost power. The pilot switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank and turned on the fuel pump; however, the propeller stopped windmilling and he was unable to restart the engine. The pilot landed the airplane in a field approximately two miles northwest of the Bay City Airport. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a 5 foot drainage ditch resulting in the left main gear and nose gear separating. The horizontal stabilizer was twisted, and the engine fire wall was damaged. The FAA inspector examined the aircraft in the field and reported that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained approximately 5 gallons of fuel. There was evidence of a "small" fuel spill at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9404X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9404X-2001-04-09), registration cancelled 2001-04-09, S/N 21057704 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210A - Registry model: [Cessna 210A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210a) (registry code 2073408) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21057704 - Airframe hours: 2445 - Engines: Continental IO-470-E 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles A. Parker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1999, 14 hours before - Departed: T19, FREER, TX - Destination: HPY, BAYTOWN, TX - Airport: 3R1, Bay City, runway 13, 5,100 × 75 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,101 total, 148 in this make and model, 1,001 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19990430020159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990430020159A), Apr 30, 1999: Cessna 210A, Bay City, TX, Substantial damage. On April 30, 1999, approximately 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 210 airplane, N9404K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss… 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.