# NTSB LAX93LA320: Cessna T210N, N300GW, Delano, CA, August 11, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 1993, 14:49 local (21:49 UTC) - Place: Delano, CA - Coordinates: 35.779987, -119.230735 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7800&lon=-119.2307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28445/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA320 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to refuel the aircraft. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to departure from Delano he checked the fuel gauges to determine the amount of fuel on board the aircraft. The pilot said he did not visually examine the tank levels or use a dip stick to quantify the fuel level. The pilot then flew from Delano to Sacramento for a business meeting. While on the ground in Sacramento, the aircraft was not refueled. The pilot then flew back to Delano and was in the landing pattern when the engine quit while turning from down wind to base. The aircraft landed short of the runway in a field and nosed over in soft soil. After the accident, it was determined that another individual in the company had flown the aircraft the day before for about 1.5 hours and had not refueled the aircraft when it was parked. FAA inspectors examined the aircraft. Fuel system continuity was established throughout the aircraft, with no leaks or ruptures found. Both fuel tanks were empty. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 1993, at 1449 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N300GW, nosed over in soft soil during a forced landing attempt near the Delano, California, airport. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of power as the aircraft turned from down wind to base while in the landing pattern for runway 32. The aircraft was owned and operated by Pandol and Sons of Delano, California, and was on a cross country business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; however, the remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at the Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, California, on the day of the mishap at about 1330 hours as the return portion of a round robin cross country flight from Delano to Sacramento. In a verbal statement to FAA inspectors, the pilot reported that prior to departure from Delano he checked the fuel gauges to determine the amount of fuel on board the aircraft. The pilot said he did not visually examine the tank levels or use a dip stick to quantify the fuel level. The pilot then flew from Delano to Sacramento for a business meeting. While on the ground in Sacramento, the aircraft was not refueled. The pilot then flew back to Delano and was in the landing pattern when the engine quit while turning from down wind to base. The aircraft landed short of the runway in a field and nosed over in soft soil. After the accident, it was determined that another individual in the company had flown the aircraft the day before for about 1.5 hours and had not refueled the aircraft when it was parked. FAA inspectors from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft. Fuel system continuity was established throughout the aircraft, with no leaks or ruptures found. Both fuel tanks were empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N300GW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N300GW-1995-01-18), registration cancelled 1995-01-18, S/N 21063209 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21063209 - Airframe hours: 2176 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R93 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pandol & Sons - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 23, 1993, 20 hours before - Departed: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA - Airport: DLO, Delano Municipal, runway 32, 5,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,063 total, 354 in this make and model, 837 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19930811029089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930811029089A), Aug 11, 1993: Cessna T210N, Delano, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power turning final. Landed short. Nosed over. Failed visual fuel check. Unknown fuel prior flight. No fuel. 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.