# NTSB MKC87FA037: Cessna T210N, N123LF, Sherwood, AR, January 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1987, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Sherwood, AR
- Coordinates: 34.780853, -92.249343 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7809&lon=-92.2493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34278
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34278/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87FA037

## 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 consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, approach
- In flight collision with object, approach

## Analysis

THE PIC DPTD MORRISTOWN WITH 600# OF CARGO AS PART OF A RND TRIP TO MCALESTER, OKLA. HEADWINDS AT ALT WERE AVG 45 KTS. THE PIC HAD ASKED FOR 60 GAL BEFORE THE DEPARTURE BUT RCVD 59.1. AFT SEVERAL HRS IN CRUISE FLT, THE PIC NOTIFIED MEMPHIS CNTR CTRLR THAT A STOP FOR FUEL IN LITTLE ROCK, ARK WOULD BE NECESSARY BEFORE CONTINUING. THE PIC RPTD STRONGER HDWNDS THAN FCSTD. WHILE BEING VECTORED BY LIT APPCH TO LND RWY 18 THE PIC RPTD ENG OUT. A RESTART WAS ATTMPTD BUT THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO A NEARBY ARPT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSND TO THE LEFT TANK. AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS IN LEFT TANK, BUT THE RT TANK CONTAINED APPROX 10 GALS OF FUEL. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF FUEL FOR CONTINUED POWERED FLT. THE ACFT ENG WAS RUN IN A TEST CELL WITHOUT PBLMS. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FOUND FREE OF CONTAMINATION. NORMALLY THE MOST FULL FUEL TANK IS SELECTED PRIOR TO THE FINAL APPROACH AS PART OF THE PRELANDING CHKLST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N123LF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062280
- Airframe hours: 1719
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Meeco Marinas,Inc.
- Registered owner: Meeco Marinas, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1986, 66 hours before
- Departed: MOR, MORRISTOWN, TN
- Destination: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 585 total, 14 in this make and model, 498 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LIT, 10 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 19870106000349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870106000349A), Jan 6, 1987: Cessna T210N, Sherwood, AR, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. The engine failed during a night approach. Suspect pilot failed to switch to the fullest tank. No engine defects.

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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