# NTSB MIA87LA165: Cessna 210L, N121PL, Tallahassee, FL, May 28, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1987, 09:44 local (13:44 UTC)
- Place: Tallahassee, FL
- Coordinates: 30.449441, -84.350646 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4494&lon=-84.3506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31917
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31917/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA165

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE ENG QUIT APRX 6 MILES FROM THE ARPT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. IMSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH DID NOT CONTAIN ENOUGH FUEL TO SUSTAIN ENGINE OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N121PL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121PL-1993-12-07), registration cancelled 1993-12-07, S/N 21060179 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21060179
- Airframe hours: 1620
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard A. Ruestman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1987
- Departed: X29, CARRABELLE, FL
- Destination: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,408 total, 297 in this make and model, 1,234 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 6 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 19870528021659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870528021659A), May 28, 1987: Cessna 210L, Tallahassee, FL, Substantial damage. The engine failed from fuel starvation. The aircraft landed in an open field. Fuel selector was on an empty tank.

## Other investigations on N121PL (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 MIA92LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA190), Sep 22, 1992: Cessna 210L (N121PL), St. Augustine, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.

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.

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