# NTSB LAX93LA363: Cessna 210A, N9520X, Salinas, CA, July 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1993, 20:28 local (Jul 25, 1993, 03:28 UTC) - Place: Salinas, CA - Coordinates: 36.640785, -121.619148 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6408&lon=-121.6191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA363 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA363 ## Probable cause An undetermined loss of engine power during the final approach phase of landing resulting in a collision with terrain during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS POINT OF DEPARTURE AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP OF ABOUT 500 NAUTICAL MILES. WHILE ON A STRAIGHT-IN LANDING APPROACH ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN SOFT TERRAIN. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT WHEN PLACED ON A TEST STAND, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1993, about 2028 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210A, N9520X, crashed during a forced landing at Salinas Municipal Airport, Salinas, California. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country flight to Salinas when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fresno Air Terminal, Fresno, California, about 1920 hours. The pilot reported that at 300 feet above the ground (AGL), while on about a 3 mile straight-in final landing approach to runway 31, the engine suddenly quit. The pilot was unable to glide to the runway and selected a forced landing area of soft terrain. During touch down, the nose gear was sheared off and the airplane received damage to the main landing gear and fuselage. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multi engine land, and instrument - airplane ratings. The most recent third class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on January 22, 1993, and contained the limitation that the pilot must wear corrective lenses for distant vision and possess glasses for near vision. According to the pilot/operator report submitted by the pilot, his total aeronautical experience consists of 1,341.5 hours, of which 60 hours were accrued in the accident aircraft make and model. In the preceding 90 and 30 days prior to the accident, the report lists a total of 37 and 17 hours, respectively, flown. In addition, the report lists a total of 4.1 hours accrued in the previous 24 hours. The airplane had accumulated a total time in service of about 4,670 flight hours. Examination of the maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was accomplished on July 22, 1993, 2 days and about 5 flight hours before the accident. The engine had also accrued a total time in service of about 4,670 hours of operation. The maintenance records note that a major overhaul was accomplished on May 24, 1992, and accrued about 120 hours of operation before the accident. An annual inspection was accomplished on the date specified above for the airframe. After the engine was overhauled on May 24, 1992, it was removed after 28.7 hours of operation and inspected due to a propeller strike. On October 22, 1992, the engine was reinstalled and returned to service. An engine oil analysis conducted on April 13, 1993, revealed no abnormal wear. Fueling records at Salinas established that the aircraft was last fueled on July 23, 1993, with the addition of 34.8 gallons of 100LL octane aviation fuel. The airplane has a fuel capacity of 65 gallons. The pilot reported that after fueling the airplane, he flew from Salinas to Carson City, Nevada, to Sacramento, California, to Fresno, California, and he returned to Salinas where the engine quit. The route distance is about 500 nautical miles. The pilot reported that both fuel tanks indicated 1/4 before the engine quit. He also indicated that he departed Fresno for the flight to Salinas with 35 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot reported that the engine and fuel system were examined by maintenance personnel at Air Trails, Inc., Salinas, California, following the accident. They reported that fuel was available to the engine. The fuel boost pump functioned normally. The fuel strainer was not contaminated. The magnetos functioned normally and were properly timed. The engine was then removed from the airframe. On August 4, 1993, the engine was installed on a test stand at Mid Valley Aviation, Los Banos, California. An operational check of the engine revealed normal fuel flow and power output from idle power to full throttle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9520X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9520X-2007-04-02), registration cancelled 2007-04-02, S/N 21057820 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210A - Registry model: [Cessna 210A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210a) (registry code 2073408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21057820 - Airframe hours: 4670 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-E 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dewitt, John G. - Registered owner: John Grigg Dewitt, - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 1993, 5 hours before - Departed: FAT, FRESNO, CA - Airport: SNS, Salinas, runway 31, 4,825 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,342 total, 60 in this make and model, 1,280 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Observed at: SNS, 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 19930724039349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930724039349A), Jul 24, 1993: Cessna 210A, Salinas, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach to airport. Landed off airport. No anomalies. Was low on fuel. May have cause unporting. ## Other investigations on N9520X (1) 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. - [NTSB BFO89LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA046), Jun 19, 1989: Cessna 210A (N9520X), Ocean City, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO GO AROUND AFTER LANDING LONG & RECOVERING FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON THE APCH, HIS IMPROPER FLARE FOR THE LANDING,… 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.