- Date
- November 2, 1991, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N59157Cessna 210
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911102048769A
- Case key
- 27494
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to unknown reason(s). A factor in this accident was the lack of suitable terrain to land the airplane, without incurring damage to the airplane.
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.
Analysis
In his written statement the pilot said that while reducing power during a straight in approach for landing, the engine had a total loss of power. The pilot executed a power off, gear up forced landing in a congested area. The aircraft landed on rough, uneven terrain causing substantial damage. The pilot thought the engine may have had a vapor lock. FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and found about 8 gallons of non-contaminated fuel in each fuel tank. They also performed an operational check on the engine and operated the engine throughout normal operational limits with no abnormalities noted. Aircraft records were reviewed with no discrepancies noted. All airworthiness directives, including those pertaining to vapor lock, were noted as being complied with. No cause for the power loss was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N59157
- Reported as
- Cessna 210
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21060129
- Airframe hours
- 1,601
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-L, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- San Diego Flying Club, Inc.
- Registered owner
- San Diego Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 1991 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
- Destination
- MYF · San Diego, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 653 total · 283 in this make and model · 653 as pilot in command · 53 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MYF, 5 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.