# NTSB MKC90LA008: Cessna P210, N47DB, Waterloo, IA, October 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 14, 1989, 20:10 local (Oct 15, 1989, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Waterloo, IA
- Coordinates: 42.49068, -92.349075 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4907&lon=-92.3491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34894/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA008

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO POOR PLANNING/DECISION, AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS MISJUDGED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. THE FACT THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING & THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - fence
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A NIGHT, BUSINESS, CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 8 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE DESTINATION AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER VECTORED HIM TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HIS POSITION. THE RUNWAY LIGHTS ON THE GRASS STRIP WERE OPERATED MANUALLY AND HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE PLT SAID HE GUESSED AT THE LOCATION OF THE AIRSTRIP DUE TO FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA. THE ACFT HIT A FENCE AND CAME TO REST AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS TO BE EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47DB-1990-07-10), registration cancelled 1990-07-10, S/N P21000749 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21000749
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Gateway Financial Services,Inc
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: 3SQ, ST. CHARLES, MO
- Destination: ALO, WATERLOO, IA
- Airport: 9C1, East Waterloo, runway 24, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,935 total, 210 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Observed at: ALO, 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 19891014040459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891014040459A), Oct 14, 1989: Cessna P210N, Waterloo, IA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel 8 miles short of destination. Vectored to nearby unlighted strip and overshot runway into a fence.

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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