LAX06LA196

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna P210N · Carson City, NV · June 7, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 7, 2006, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Carson City, NV
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N7762KCessna P210N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Reno Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20060607010519A
Case key
63872

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Fuel exhaustion which resulted in a loss of engine power during approach for landing due to the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft and the pilot's failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause
Refueling - not performedPilot in commandCause
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Forced landingEmergency landing
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Object - fence

Analysis

The pilot reported that he taxied his airplane from one hangar to another when he decided to take the airplane up for a quick flight. He flew the airplane around the local area and returned to the airport after about 15 minutes. The airplane was on a left downwind for runway 27, and the pilot had completed the before landing checklist (he extended the landing gear and lowered 20 degrees of flaps) when the "engine quit producing power." The pilot turned on the electric fuel pump, as well as the high boost pump, and made a left turn toward the runway. The pilot reported engaging the high boost pump switch until landing the airplane. He opened the throttle and applied a full rich mixture, but the engine did not restart. The pilot observed the fuel quantity gauges and noted that both right and left fuel tanks displayed needles "above the red warning area." The pilot realized the airplane would not make it to the airport and noticed a suitable landing site. He maneuvered the airplane over power lines and houses, and lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed. He flared the airplane for landing, but the nose landing gear contacted the ground before the main gear. Subsequently, the nose gear and main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest about 150 to 200 feet from the initial touchdown point after impacting a fence and a mailbox. Following the accident, inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Reno Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) examined the airplane at the accident site. According to the FSDO inspectors, approximately 1/2-inch of fuel or less remained in the left wing when it was placed in a level position. They reported that slightly more remained in the right fuel tank. The recovery personnel drained 3 gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank and 5 gallons from the right; however, he noted that some had spilled out during the recovery process. The pilot could not remember which fuel tank was selected at the time of the loss of engine power. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failures. He added that he had last refueled the airplane in May 2006, about a month prior to the accident, in Ely, Nevada, before flying back to Carson City. Post accident inspections revealed no mechanical irregularities.

Factual narrative

On June 7, 2006, at 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P210N airplane, N7762K, experienced a loss of engine power and collided with objects during a forced landing in a residential area in Carson City, Nevada. The airplane was operated by the pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The local area flight departed the Carson Airport about 15 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed.

During an initial telephone interview, and subsequent written statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, the pilot indicated that he taxied his airplane from one hangar to another when he decided to take the airplane up for a quick flight. He flew the airplane around the local area and returned to the airport after about 15 minutes. The airplane was on a left downwind for runway 27, and the pilot had completed the before landing checklist (he extended the landing gear and lowered 20 degrees of flaps) when the "engine quit producing power." The pilot turned on the electric fuel pump, as well as the high boost pump, and made a left turn toward the runway. The pilot reported engaging the high boost pump switch until landing the airplane. He opened the throttle and applied a full rich mixture, but the engine did not restart. The pilot observed the fuel quantity gauges and noted that both right and left fuel tanks displayed needles "above the red warning area."

The pilot realized the airplane would not make it to the airport and noticed a suitable landing site. He maneuvered the airplane over power lines and houses, and lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed. He flared the airplane for landing, but the nose landing gear contacted the ground before the main gear. Subsequently, the nose gear and main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest about 150 to 200 feet from the initial touchdown point after impacting a fence and a mailbox.

Following the accident, inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Reno, Nevada, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) examined the airplane at the accident site. According to the FSDO inspectors, approximately 1/2-inch of fuel or less remained in the left wing when it was placed in a level position. They reported that slightly more remained in the right fuel tank. The recovery personnel drained 3 gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank and 5 gallons from the right; however, he noted that some had spilled out during the recovery process. The pilot could not remember which fuel tank was selected at the time of the loss of engine power. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failures. He added that he had last refueled the airplane in May 2006, about a month prior to the accident, in Ely, Nevada, before flying back to Carson City.

Post accident inspections revealed no mechanical irregularities.

Aircraft

Registration
N7762K
Reported as
Cessna P210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
00425
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-P, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
William J. Fletcher
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
CXP · Carson City, NV

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
47
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,000 total · 2,300 in this make and model · 2,960 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 10 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 70 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.