# NTSB LAX99LA203: Cessna P210N, N37MJ, Reno, NV, May 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1999, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.479114, -119.740905 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4791&lon=-119.7409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46462 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46462/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA203 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's inattentive monitoring and management of the fuel system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - not selected, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis While on a second practice ILS approach, the pilot announced to the Reno ATCT local controller that he was out of fuel. The airplane crashed in a field 1 mile short of the runway. The pilot said that prior to the accident, they had practiced holding patterns, a VOR approach, and one ILS approach. After the engine suddenly quit, the pilot looked at the right fuel gage, which read empty, and switched the selector to the left tank. The pilot was unable to effect an engine restart prior to colliding with the ground. An FAA airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site. He determined that the responding airport fire department units had turned the fuel selector from the left tank to the off position. Examination of the fuel system disclosed that it was intact. Two ounces of fuel were drained from the right wing tank and 13 ounces from the right reservoir tank. The left fuel tank contained about 25 gallons of fuel and the left reservoir tank had 65 ounces. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 1999, at 1040 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N37MJ, collided with terrain following a nonmechanical loss of engine power while on approach to runway 16R at Reno, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The private pilot/owner, who was occupying the left seat, received minor injuries. The certified flight instructor who was occupying the right seat and serving as a safety pilot sustained serious injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Reno airport at 0950, and the purpose of the local flight was to provide instrument instruction to the aircraft owner. In a review of the recorded air-ground communications tapes, the pilot announced to the Reno ATCT local controller at 1043 "Mayday, out of fuel." In a subsequent telephone interview with the pilot, he told Safety Board investigators that he had flown from Yerington Municipal Airport to Reno to pickup his certified flight instructor. The pilot said he was in the final stages of preparing for his instrument flight rules check ride. Prior to the accident, they had practiced holding patterns, a VOR approach, and one ILS approach. They were on their second ILS approach when the engine suddenly quit. The pilot said he took off his foggles, looked at the right fuel gage, which read empty, and switched the selector to the left tank. The pilot was unable to effect a restart and the aircraft touched down about 1 mile short of the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector from the Reno, Nevada, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site. He determined that the responding airport fire department units had turned the fuel selector from the left tank to the off position. Examination of the fuel system disclosed that it was intact. Two ounces of fuel were drained from the right wing tank and 13 ounces from the right reservoir tank. The left fuel tank contained about 25 gallons of fuel and the left reservoir tank had 65 ounces. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37MJ), registered now, S/N P21000552 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P210N - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-p) (registry code 17268, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000552 - Airframe hours: 2323 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: James M. Blasco - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1998 - Departed: KRNO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RNO, Reno Tahoe International, runway 16R, 11,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 202 total, 202 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 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 19990531005989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990531005989A), May 31, 1999: Cessna P210N, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. Pilot advised tower on final for rwy 16R that he was out of fuel and crashed north of airport. 2 serious. (.4)while on a second practice ILS approach, the… 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.