# NTSB LAX02LA055: Cessna T210M, N1309M, Santa Rosa, CA, December 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 2001, 18:10 local (Dec 25, 2001, 02:10 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, CA - Coordinates: 38.500686, -122.759422 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5007&lon=-122.7594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53944/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning/decision resulting in miscalculation of fuel consumption, fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. Factors were rough terrain in a vineyard, power lines in the landing area, and night time. ## 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 consumption calculations - incorrect, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, approach - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with power lines and landed in a vineyard about 1 mile south of Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, California, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot noted about 20 gallons of fuel in the left tank and 15 gallons in the right tank during preflight. He flew from Petaluma, California, to Lakeport, California. The pilot was cruising at 5,500 feet on the return to Petaluma and began a descent when he was abeam Santa Rosa. He was well past Santa Rosa when the engine began to run rough; the right fuel gauge indicated 5 to 7 gallons. He switched from the right tank to the left tank, which now indicated 10 to 15 gallons, and the engine ran smoother. He continued toward Petaluma at an altitude of 3,000 feet, but could not visually acquire the airport's rotating beacon. He tried to activate the pilot controlled runway lights, but still could not visually identify the airport. He decided to fly back to Sonoma County Airport. He lost and regained power five times as he headed to Sonoma County Airport. The Air Traffic Control Tower advised him that a vineyard was south of the airport. The pilot could not see the landing area because of the darkness, but headed toward the dark field. He contacted power lines just prior to touchdown, but landed upright in the vineyard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The recovery agent did not observe any fuel in either tank, and no fuel drained out of the fuel lines when they were disconnected during disassembly for transport. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 2001, about 1810 Pacific standard time, a Cessna T210M, N1309M, collided with power lines and landed in a vineyard about 1 mile south of Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, California, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Lampson Field (1O2), Lakeport, California, about 1745, en route to Petaluma (O69), California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he based the airplane at Petaluma, and flew his daughter to Lampson Field in the afternoon. During the preflight before departing Petaluma, he noted about 20 gallons of fuels in the left tank, and 15 gallons in the right tank. The pilot was cruising at 5,500 feet on the return leg and began a descent when he was abeam Santa Rosa. He was well past Santa Rosa when the engine began to run rough; the right fuel gauge indicated 5 to 7 gallons. He switched from the right tank to the left tank, which now indicated 10 to 15 gallons, and the engine ran smoother. He continued toward Petaluma at an altitude of 3,000 feet, but could not visually acquire the airport's rotating beacon. He tried to activate the pilot controlled runway lights, but still could not visually identify the airport. He decided to fly back to Sonoma County Airport. He could see the runway lights for runway 32 at Santa Rosa. The engine began to run rough and stopped, but he switched tanks and restarted it. He was in contact with the Sonoma County Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and apprising them of his situation. He lost and regained power five times as he headed to Sonoma County Airport. As he approached the airfield, he advised the ATCT that he was not going to make the field. They advised him that a vineyard was south of the airport. The pilot could not see the landing area because of the darkness, but headed toward the dark field. He saw power lines immediately prior to touchdown and could not avoid them. He contacted the power lines, but successfully landed in the vineyard and stopped after about 30 feet of ground contact. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The recovery agent did not observe any fuel in either tank, and no fuel drained out of the fuel lines when they were disconnected during disassembly for transport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1309M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1309M-2002-06-27), registration cancelled 2002-06-27, S/N 21061934, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21061943 - Airframe hours: 4844 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-P 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter C. Kohn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2000, 114 hours before - Departed: 1O2, LAKEPORT, CA - Destination: O69, PETALUMA, CA - Airport: STS, Sonoma County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 15, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 2,725 total, 2,288 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: STS ## 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 20011224034299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011224034299A), Dec 24, 2001: Cessna T210M, Santarosa, CA, No damage. (-23) While enroute to petaluma (O69) the engine started to run rough. Mr. Adams switched from the right fuel tank to the left which indicated 10-15 gallons.… 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.