# NTSB LAX98LA168: Cessna T210M, N6056B, Santa Barbara, CA, May 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 1998, 15:19 local (22:19 UTC) - Place: Santa Barbara, CA - Location: 34.3981° N, 119.8500° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SANTA BARBARA MUNI (SBA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3981&lon=-119.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30094/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA168 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismangement of the fuel by the improper position of the fuel tank selector. ## 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 - final approach - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water - maneuver to avoid obstructions - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis On the final leg of the flight, the pilot had the fuel selector on the left fuel tank. He was on final approach when the engine quit and believed he was out of gas. He was unsuccessful in restarting the engine and he turned the aircraft away from the beach and ditched in the water. Aircraft recovery personnel reported both fuel tanks were found intact. He drained approximately 15 gallons of fuel from the right tank and found no fuel in the left tank. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 1998, at 1519 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N6056B, ditched in the Pacific ocean approximately 2 miles south of Santa Barbara, California, following a loss of engine power. The aircraft was destroyed, and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The last leg of the flight originated from the Torrance, California, airport, approximately 1430 and was on approach to Santa Barbara at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that his flight originated earlier that day from the Oxnard, California, airport, and he had received 9 gallons of fuel before takeoff. He further reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to departure. The pilot flew approximately 2 hours 10 minutes. According to the aircraft manual, the aircraft holds 89 useable gallons of fuel, has a maximum endurance of approximately 3.7 hours at standard cruise, and burns approximately 24 gallons per hour. The pilot reported that on the final leg of the flight, the fuel selector was on the left fuel tank. He had estimated that the left fuel tank was approximately 25 percent full and the right fuel tank was approximately 40 percent full. The pilot reported that he was on a 2-mile final approach to the airport when the engine quit. He stated that the power loss felt sudden, and he had experienced no prior engine problems. He reported to the tower that "it seemed like I was out of gas or something." The pilot activated the emergency fuel pump and switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. He reported that he checked the mixture and the ignition switch and tried pumping the throttle. The propeller was still spinning but the engine did not restart. The pilot reported that he did not hear the fuel pump or the ignition switch engage. He turned the aircraft away from the beach to avoid the people on the ground. The pilot ditched the aircraft in the water and opened the window just before touchdown to facilitate egress. The aircraft retriever reported that both fuel tanks were found intact. He drained approximately 15 gallons of fuel from the right tank and reported that he found no fuel in the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6056B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6056B-1998-10-30), registration cancelled 1998-10-30, S/N 21062672 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062672 - Airframe hours: 2591 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Mcintyre - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1997, 98 hours before - Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA - Destination: SBA, CA - Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 605 total, 110 in this make and model, 535 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSB ## 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 19980520010279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980520010279A), May 20, 1998: Cessna T210M, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed. The pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to departure. He flew approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes. The aircraft holds 89… 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.