# NTSB LAX07CA261: Cessna T210N, N5479A, San Jose, CA, September 1, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 1, 2007, 12:33 local (19:33 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 37.333332, -121.816665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3333&lon=-121.8167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66599
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66599/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA261

## Probable cause

The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply that resulted in fuel starvation.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel management - incorrect, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot made a forced landing and impacted trees about 1/4-mile short of the airport following a loss of engine power during cruise flight.  About 10 minutes prior to arriving at his intended destination, fuel in the left tank was exhausted.  The pilot repositioned the fuel selector to the right fuel tank that he believed contained at least 10 gallons of fuel in an attempt at restarting the engine; however, engine power was not restored.

## Factual narrative

On September 1, 2007, about 1233 Pacific daylight time,  a Cessna T210N, N5479A, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.  The pilot made a forced landing in a parking lot about 1/4-mile short of the Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County, San Jose, California.  The airplane collided with trees during the approach to runway 31R and was substantially damaged.  The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries.  The pilot owned and operated the airplane.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Palm Springs, California, about 1015.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his intended destination was Hayward, California.  All engine power was suddenly lost about 10 minutes prior to arriving at Hayward.  The pilot reported that he repositioned the fuel selector from the left fuel tank, which had run dry, to the right fuel tank that he believed contained an estimated 10 to 15 gallons of fuel.  The nearest airport to the airplane's location was Reid-Hillview, and the pilot diverted toward that airport.  Engine power was not restored while descending during the forced landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5479A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5479A-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 21063462, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063462
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard F. Groger
- Registered owner: Richard F. Groger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PSP, Palm Springs, CA
- Destination: HWD, Hayward, CA
- Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview of Santa ClaraCo, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 4,473 total, 2,523 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20070901021719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070901021719A), Sep 1, 2007: Cessna T210N, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 01, 2007, the pilot of N5479A, a Cessna T210N was enroute from psp airport to hwd airport when the engine quit. The pilot declared an…

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.

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