# NTSB LAX89FA064: Cessna T210L, N4675Q, Buena Park, CA, December 17, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1988, 12:03 local (20:03 UTC)
- Place: Buena Park, CA
- Coordinates: 33.840126, -117.999519 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8401&lon=-117.9995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26195/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA064

## Probable cause

THE PILOT USED POOR JUDGEMENT IN BEGINNING THE FLIGHT WITH INADEQUATE FUEL; HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL V.F.R. PROCEDURES; AND HIS POOR PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

## 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 - base leg/base to final
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Analysis

THE PVT PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT FROM RIVERSIDE WHERE MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED. ABOUT 20 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FLT ENTERED THE NORTH DOWNWIND FOR RWY 6 AT FULLERTON MUNI ARPT. AT ABOUT THE TIME THE ACFT WAS TURNING ON A BASE LEG TO LAND, THE PLT RPRTD A LOSS OF ENG POWER. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT THE ACFT SEEMED TO BE IN A GLIDE FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. HOWEVER, WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 100' TO 150' ABOVE SOME WAREHOUSE BLDGS, IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED ON THE ROOF OF A WAREHOUSE. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, LESS THAN 3 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS & NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS NOTED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OF MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4675Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4675Q-1989-11-18), registration cancelled 1989-11-18, S/N 21059575 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21059575
- Airframe hours: 1178
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-H 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Trileen, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 1988, 61 hours before
- Departed: RIR, RIVERSIDE, CA
- Destination: FUL, FULLERTON, CA
- Airport: FUL, Fullerton Muni, runway 6, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 315 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FUL, 1 nm away

## 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 19881217054579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881217054579A), Dec 17, 1988: Cessna T210L, Fullerton, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Engine quit on downwind. Crashed into a building. Pilot had unported low fuel in a turn. Other tank was empty.

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.