- Date
- August 31, 1996, 13:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place
- Globe, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2059SCessna T210L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960831025549A
- Case key
- 29550
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
fuel starvation due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and improper fuel tank selection.
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
On final approach, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power and crashed into rough terrain adjacent to the airport. The airplane's fuel selector was found positioned to the right fuel tank. No fuel was observed in the right tank, and about 22.5 gallons of fuel was found in the left fuel tank. The engine was successfully test run. No evidence of preimpact malfunctions was observed. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane's last annual inspection was performed over 2 years earlier, and the pilot's last biennial flight review was accomplished over 3.5 years earlier.
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1996, about 1355 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna T210L, N2059S, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power on final approach to the San Carlos Apache Airport in Globe, Arizona. The airplane collided with rough terrain adjacent to the airport and was substantially damaged. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Globe at 1215.
The airplane was recovered from the accident site and examined. The fuel selector was found positioned to the right fuel tank. No fuel was observed in the right tank, and about 22.5 gallons of fuel was found in the left fuel tank.
According to the pilot's self described partner in life, the pilot's injuries precluded him from completing the required accident report. The partner completed the form on behalf of the pilot. The partner indicated that the pilot's last biennial flight review was accomplished on February 10, 1993.
An examination of the airplane's maintenance records indicated that the airplane last received an annual inspection on June 9, 1994. The partner also reported that during the 90-day period which preceded the crash, the pilot had flown the airplane for about 6 hours.
The engine was shipped to Teledyne Continental Motors' manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, where it was examined and test run under the supervision of an FAA inspector. No evidence of preimpact malfunctions was observed. The engine was successfully operated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2059S
- Reported as
- Cessna T210L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21061026
- Airframe hours
- 3,360
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-H-4A, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wally Bagdasarian
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 9, 1994 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- P13
- Airport
- P13 · Globe, runway 27, 5,804 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 715 total · 165 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.