# NTSB LAX05CA031: Cessna P210N, N6663P, North Las Vegas, NV, November 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 10, 2004, 16:00 local (Nov 11, 2004, 00:00 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.288333, -115.294166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2883&lon=-115.2942&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA031 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which failed to assure an adequate fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot made a forced landing and touched down hard in an open, uneven dirt field about 6 miles from the destination airport. About 20 miles from the airport, the airplane's engine had sputtered, and the pilot repositioned the fuel selector to the opposite wing fuel tank. Thereafter, the engine operated smoothly until he contacted the tower for his approach. On approach, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. Responding rescue personnel reported that they observed no evidence of fuel in the airplane, and no evidence of fuel was in the ground surrounding the airplane. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction or failure during the accident flight. He also indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he topped off the main fuel tanks prior to initiating the flight. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2004, about 1600 Pacific standard time, a Cessna P210N, N6663P, experienced a total loss of engine power on approach to the North Las Vegas, Nevada, airport. With the landing gear intentionally retracted, the pilot made a forced landing in an open field, about 6 nautical miles northwest of the airport. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial certificated pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot was the sole occupant in the airplane, which he owned and operated. The business flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Hurricane, Utah, about 1 hour before the accident. The pilot reported that about 20 miles from the North Las Vegas Airport, the engine sputtered, and he repositioned the fuel selector to the opposite wing fuel tank. Thereafter, the engine operated smoothly until he contacted the tower for his approach. About that time all engine power was lost. The pilot advised the tower that he was making a forced landing in a nearby field. Except for the initial contact with the ground, the touchdown was fairly smooth in the uneven dirt field. The airplane skidded between 50 and 75 feet before coming to a stop. There was no fire. Responding rescue personnel reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that they observed no evidence of fuel in the airplane, and no evidence of fuel was in the ground surrounding the airplane. Subsequently, the pilot stated that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction or failure during the flight. He also indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he topped off the main fuel tanks prior to his departure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6663P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6663P-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N P21000195, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P210N - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000195 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eugene L. Buckley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Destination: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 8,700 total, 8,120 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20041110030139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041110030139A), Nov 10, 2004: Cessna P210N, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) Responded to a/c landing gear up due to loss of power. A/c force landed 6 +/- miles nnw of vfg airport at approx 1600 PST. A/c landed on nnw heading of… 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.