# NTSB MKC84LA008: Cessna P210N, N731HP, Lawrence, KS, October 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1983, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Lawrence, KS
- Coordinates: 38.339073, -94.760215 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3391&lon=-94.7602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33582/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA008

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - erratic (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO FLT, THE FUEL GAGES INDICATED BOTH TANKS WERE FULL; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT VISUALLY VERIFY THE QUANTITY OF FUEL. DURING FLT, IN THE VICINITY OF EMPORIA, KS, THE ENG LOST POWER WHILE USING FUEL FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE PLT CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK & TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THIS ACTION INCREASED THE FUEL PRESSURE & RESTARTED THE ENG. THERE WAS AN ARPT AT EMPORIA, BUT THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION AT LAWRENCE, KS. LATER, WHILE CONTINUING THE FLT, BOTH FUEL GAGE INDICATIONS DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PLT PUSHED ON THE GAGES & BOTH RETURNED TO A FULL INDICATION, THEN BECAME ERRATIC. AS HE WAS APPROACHING LAWRENCE, THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PLT STARTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD, BUT UTILITY POLES & WIRES PARALLELED THE ROAD. HE THEN ELECTED TO MAKE A WHEELS-UP LANDING IN A ROUGH PASTURE. AN EXAM REVEALED AN ELECTRICAL OPEN BETWEEN THE FUEL INDICATORS & THE ELECTRICAL GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N731HP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731HP-2014-12-16), registration cancelled 2014-12-16, S/N P21000463, built 1980 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000463
- Airframe hours: 522
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Billy B. Meridith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1983, 23 hours before
- Departed: H77, WELLINGTON, KS
- Destination: 3LA, LAWRENCE, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 600 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FOE, 13 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 19831016054619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831016054619A), Oct 16, 1983: Cessna P210N, Lawrence, KS, Substantial damage. Gauges went to zero near destination. Engine then quit. Landed gear up in a rough field. Fuel tanks were empty.

## Other investigations on N731HP (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 LAX93LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA194), May 1, 1993: Cessna P210N (N731HP), Oakland, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's poor decision to continue flying the airplane with a known deficiency and the poorly performed major overhaul of the engine. The failed crankshaft due to fatigue are factors in this…

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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